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Enterococcus faecalis is a bacterium also called faecal streptococcus. Enterococcus faecalis belongs to the group of enterococci, gram-positive bacteria, turning purple in Gram staining. The tissues lining the digestive system of mammals of various species, including humans, are the natural habitat of Enterococcus faecalis. Enterococcus faecalis is a relatively dangerous bacterium – it can lead to infections that threaten human health and life.
Danger of Enterococcus faecalis
When Enterococcus faecalis bacteria are found in the digestive system, they do not pose a threat to human life or health. When they multiply excessively, there is a possibility of transferring bacteria to inappropriate places. Typically, such sites are in the mouth or around the urethra. For this reason, this bacterium is also called “dirty hands bacteria”. Due to poor hygiene, such as not washing your hands after using the toilet, it is responsible for its dangerous distribution.
Enterococcus faecalis infections occur most often in hospitals or other health care facilities where people show reduced resistance to antibiotics. Dental offices are a common site of Enterococcus faecalis infection, where this bacterium can enter the bloodstream during root canal treatment. In addition, Enterococcus faecalis can be infected in public places such as swimming pools, playgrounds, public transport, city toilets and others.
How does Enterococcus faecalis work on the human body?
Enterococcus faecalis is an anaerobic bacterium that ferments glucose without additional gas production. When infected with Enterococcus faecalis, it can cause a number of unpleasant ailments and diseases. The most common places attacked by them are tissues and organs located within the urinary system. Such infections occur much more often in women than in men, and in children in the first year of life.
Bladder infection develops extremely often in pregnant women. This situation is extremely dangerous because the developing infection also poses a threat to the life of the fetus; can lead to disorders or inhibition of its development, as well as to premature labor.
Urethral infection is another disease associated with the presence of Enterococcus faecalis in the urinary tract. It develops much more often in the body of women than men. This is because the urethra in a woman’s body is closer to the anus and its length is shorter than that of a man’s.
There is also a common infection of the genital tract, called vaginosis. In such a situation, the bacterial flora lining the vaginal walls is disturbed. Enterococcus faecalis takes the place of lactobacilli, a bacteria with a beneficial effect.
Enterococcus faecalis in the urinary system can also lead to nephritis. Then symptoms such as intense pain in the loin, pain while urinating, oliguria, as well as fever, general weakness, chills and skin changes appear.
In men, urinary tract infections with Enterococcus faecalis are much less frequent. However, when this is the case, inflammation of the prostate gland usually develops. It is manifested by fever, frequent urination or inability to empty the bladder, pain in the perineum while sitting, and purulent discharge from the urethra.
It should also be noted that diseases of the urinary tract caused by Enterococcus faecalis are more common in newborns and infants than in older children or adults. The development of diseases of the urinary system is favored by such circumstances as: frequent reaching with the hands towards the anus, the use of irritating cosmetics, vesicoureteral reflux or congenital defects in the structure of the urinary tract.
Treatment of infection with Enterococcus faecalis
If infection with Enterococcus faecalis is suspected, a number of specific tests are performed. The most common type of urine test is to diagnose urinary tract infections. If an excessive amount of Enterococcus faecalis bacteria is observed in the urine, further tests are performed, including a test called an antibiotic, which allows you to select the optimal antibiotic. In the case of urinary tract infections, nitrofurantoin is effective. For other infections developing locally, ampicillin is used. In systemic infections, depending on the specific bacterial strain, aminoglycosides, vancomycin or linezolid are also administered.
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