5. Family Enterococcaceae

Question 1

Microscopic characteristics of the family Enterococcaceae

Answer 1

Gram-positive cocci in pairs and short chains

Question 2

Oxygen requirements of the family Enterococcaceae

Answer 2

Facultative anaerobe

Question 3

Catalase reaction of the family Enterococcaceae

Answer 3

Catalase negative

Question 4

The family Enterococcaceae is normal flora in the

Answer 4

GI

Urogenital tract

Question 5

Enterococcus virulence factor for attachment to epithelial cells

Answer 5

Fimbriae

Question 6

Enterococcus virulence factor for attachment to the intestinal tract

Answer 6

Adhesins

Question 7

Enterococcus virulence factor; inhibits the growth of other intestinal bacteria

Answer 7

Bacteriocins

Question 8

Enterococcus virulence factor that hydrolyzes collagen and hemoglobin

Answer 8

Gelatinase

Question 9

Colony morphology of Enterococcus

Answer 9

Small
White colonies
May be nonhemolytic/α-hemolytic/β-hemolytic

Question 10

Bile esculin reaction of Enterococcus

Answer 10

Bile esculin positive

Question 11

PYR reaction of Enterococcus

Answer 11

PYR positive

Question 12

Antibiotics that Enterococcus is resistant to

Answer 12

• Cephalosporins (inherent)
• Trimethoprim
• Sulfamethoxazole

Question 13

Antibiotics used to treat Enterococcus infections

Answer 13

• Vancomycin
• Aminoglycosides
• Fluoroquinolones
• Linezolid (newer agent)
• Daptomycin (newer agent)

Question 14

Most common Enterococcus isolates from humans

Answer 14

E. faecalis
E. faecium
E. avium
E. casseliflavus
E. gallinarum