Enterococcus faecalis

A normal flora bacterium, but it can become pathogenic with dysbiosis. In the vaginal context (aromatogram): is detected in recurring infections. It is naturally insensitive to some antibiotics, such as cephalosporins.

What Enterococcus faecalis does in the gut

Enterococcus faecalis is a gram-positive lactic acid bacterium that can live with or without oxygen and belongs to the normal gut flora in small numbers. It tolerates bile, salt, dryness and temperature changes and therefore survives conditions in which many other bacteria die. In the gut it ferments sugars into lactic acid, can produce bacteriocins and, in newborns, is among the first colonisers that help train the immune system of the mucosa.

Low Enterococcus faecalis – what happens in the gut?

Even normally, enterococci make up only a small part of the gut flora. They share their tasks – lactic acid production and competition for nutrients – with many other lactic acid bacteria, so a low amount on its own has no particular consequence in the gut. It is considered in connection with the rest of the lactic acid flora.

High Enterococcus faecalis – what happens in the gut?

Enterococcus faecalis multiplies mainly when competing bacteria are missing, for example after antibiotics to which it is naturally insensitive, such as cephalosporins. In larger numbers it can release superoxide radicals and produce the enzyme gelatinase, which broke down components of the mucosal barrier in animal studies. From the gut, E. faecalis can reach neighbouring areas of the body; it is one of the common causes of urinary tract infections and is also detected in vaginal infections.

The interpretation is given in your report.