Sections View Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Annotate Full Chapter Figures Tables Videos Supplementary Content + Download Section PDF Listen ++ For further information, see CMDT Part 33-02: Enterococcal Infections + Key Features Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Two species—Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium— are responsible for most human enterococcal infections + Clinical Findings Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Wound infections Urinary tract infection Bacteremia Endocarditis Meningitis + Diagnosis Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Cultures of blood, affected fluids, or tissue + Treatment Download Section PDF Listen +++ ++ Most enterococcal infections can be treated with Penicillin, 3 million units every 4 hours intravenously Ampicillin (which is slightly more active than penicillin in vitro), 2 g every 6 hours intravenously Vancomycin, 1 g every 12 hours intravenously Add gentamicin, 1 mg/kg every 8 hours intravenously for a duration of 2–3 weeks, to above regimens to achieve bactericidal activity required to cure Endocarditis Meningitis Quinupristin/dalfopristin and linezolid are FDA approved for treatment of infections caused by vancomycin-resistant strains of enterococci (VRE) Daptomycin, tigecycline, tedizolid, and oritavancin are not FDA approved for the treatment for VRE, although they are frequently active in vitro Quinupristin/dalfopristin Not active against strains of E faecalis Should be used only for infections caused by E faecium Dose is 7.5 mg/kg every 8–12 hours intravenously Linezolid An oxazolidinone Active against both E faecalis and E faecium Dose is 600 mg twice daily (both intravenous and oral formulations are available)