Enterococcus faecalis is a commensal bacteria found in the digestive tract of humans and animals, existing in harmony with other microbes and the digestive tract, but can become a life-threatening pathogen. E. faecalis can be found in re-infected root canals, with very high rates compared with the initial infection in a root canal.
E. faecalis is naturally highly antibiotic-resistant, and when found in the vagina, is considered to contribute to aerobic vaginitis. E. faecalis can also cause urinary tract infections. E. faecalis is a very hardy organism that can be tricky to treat, however not impossible. E. faecalis can survive in very harsh conditions, including very alkaline pH environments, high temperatures, and salty conditions.
Aerobic vaginitis causes irritation to vaginal tissues and is different to bacterial vaginosis. E. faecalis is a facultative anaerobe, which actually means it is an aerobe that can tolerate anaerobic conditions – in science, an aerobe and a facultative anaerobe can be the same thing. This bacterium is therefore put into the aerobic vaginitis category, as it can utilise both oxygenated and non-oxygenated environments, but prefers oxygen.
E. faecalis has a negative effect on cells by altering the host immune response, competing with other cells, and forming a biofilm.
Find out more about Enterococcus faecalis.
