Enterococcus species and GRE

Enterococci are bacteria that are commonly found in the bowel of normal healthy individuals. They can cause a range of illnesses including urinary tract infections, bacteraemia (blood stream infections) and wound infections.

The two most common species of Enterococci are E. faecalis and E. faecium. During the mid-1980s enterococci with resistance to glycopeptide antibiotics such as vancomycin and teicoplanin emerged, termed glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE). Most GRE are E. faecium.  urinary tract infections, bacteraemia (blood stream infections) and wound infections.

Photo: Pete Wardell / CDC