Susceptibility of enterococci and epidemiology of enterococcal infections in the 1980s

Abstract

Enterococcisensu strictoform part of the normal gut flora (1) and may be found in the mouth, vagina and anterior urethra (2). They are opportunist pathogens which can cause serious infection including endocarditis. Nosocomial enterococcal infection appears to be increasing both in the UK (Public Health Laboratory Service [PHLS] Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre [CDSC], unpublished) and the USA (3) and to correspond to usage of broad spectrum β-lactam antimicrobial agents (4−7) and invasive surgical devices (8, 9). At the same time, the incidence of enterococci resistant or tolerant to previously commonly employed antimicrobial agents or their synergistic combinations is increasing and is compromising therapy of serious enterococcal infection. Strains of enterococci with high-level resistance to streptomycin and kanamycin (minimal inhibitory concentrations [MICs] > 2000 mg/L) were first reported in 1970 (10, 11) and rapidly became widespread (8, 12−14).