Colonizer to Pathogen: A review on Enterococcal urinary tract infections

Abstract

Abstract Enterococcus species has been historically known as part of the commensal flora of the normal human alimentary tract. Implicated in a wide array of illnesses encompassing bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, wound infections as well as intra-abdominal infections, it has been rapidly emerging as a pathogen of interest owing to its propensity to acquire multidrug resistance. Due to the high antibiotic pressure in healthcare settings and salient intrinsic resistance to commonly used classes of antimicrobials, Enterococcus selectively proliferates in nosocomial settings. Their hardy nature and ability to resist a wide array of disinfectants enable them to proliferate on surfaces as well as provide for efficient transmission in hospital settings. Since Urinary tract infection (UTI) is one of the commonest infections caused by Enterococcus species. We attempt to comprehensively overview the paradigm shift of this erstwhile colonizer to one of the common uropathogen in hospital and community settings.