Enterococcus faecalis
Bacteria|Bacillota|Bacilli|Lactobacillales|Enterococcaceae|Enterococcus
Synonyms: Enterococcus proteiformis; Enterocoque; Micrococcus ovalis; Micrococcus zymogenes; Streptococcus faecalis; Streptococcus glycerinaceus; Streptococcus liquefaciens
Biology & Ecology
Biology
Gram Statusgram-positive
Oxygen Tolerancefacultative anaerobe
Morphologycoccus
Ecology
Primary Nichesgut, urinary tract
Reservoiranimal, human
Clinical Profile
Pathobiont
yes
no
context dependent
unknown
Clinical Rolescommensal; opportunistic pathogen
Typical Specimenwound swab
Clinical Associations:
E2
E3 — Strong human clinical evidence
E2 — Moderate human evidence
E1 — Limited / preliminary
GF C57BL/6 mice monocolonized with E. faecalis (n=6–10) showed translocation to mesenteric veins, MLNs, and liver but did NOT develop gut barrier leakage (FITC-dextran not elevated), anti-RNA IgG, or anti-dsDNA IgG autoantibodies at 8 weeks post-colonization, in contrast to E. gallinarum-monocolonized mice; Th17 cells were not expanded in small intestinal lamina propria or MLNs (n=5 per group).
PMID:
29590047
E2
E3 — Strong human clinical evidence
E2 — Moderate human evidence
E1 — Limited / preliminary
E. faecalis lysate or RNA induced significantly lower expression of ERV gp70, β2-glycoprotein I, type I IFN-α, and AhR/CYP1A1 in murine and human hepatocytes compared to E. gallinarum (ANOVA, p<0.05 to p<0.0001, n=3 each); serum anti-E. faecalis RNA IgG was not elevated in SLE (n=15) or AIH (n=17) patients relative to healthy controls (n=9), distinguishing it from E. gallinarum.
PMID:
29590047
E1
E3 — Strong human clinical evidence
E2 — Moderate human evidence
E1 — Limited / preliminary
Enterococcus faecalis was isolated from a wound swab in a post-HSCT immunocompromised patient with B-cell ALL; treatment with cefepime was initiated but discontinued due to cefepime-induced neurotoxicity.
PMID:
40544256
Last reviewed: 2026-04-02
Evidence Timeline
Related Taxa
Shared Niche = same body site
Shared Risk = same vulnerable population
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