ENTEROCOCCUS

Question 1

What kind of pathogen is enterococcus?

Answer 1

Bacteria

Question 2

Is Enterococcus gram positive or gram negative?

Answer 2

Gram positive

Question 3

What would Enterococcus look like on a microscope slide?

Answer 3

Purple cocci (spheres) in SHORT chains

Question 4

What is Enterococcus?

Answer 4

Normal intestinal (enteric) flora

Question 5

What would cause an infection with Enterococcus?

Answer 5

If a host is compromised, disease can occur

-can be transmitted fecal-orally (poor hand washing)

-not terribly contagious if you are not immunocompromised

Question 6

What kind of infections can Enterococcus cause?

Answer 6

-Catheter related UTI’s

-Bacteremia in dialysis

-Diabetic foot/wound infections

Question 7

How can you treat enterococcus infections? What are enterococcus infections resistant to?

Answer 7

IV Ampicillin/Amoxicillin *drugs of choice

If severe allergy or resistance to penicillins: Vancomycin

***ALWAYS RESISTANT TO CEPHALOSPORINS AND BACTRIM

Question 8

What is VRE?

Answer 8

Vancomycin resistant enterococcus, commonly nosocomial (hospital acquired)
*these are difficult to treat