Enterococcus: Understanding Their Resistance Mechanisms, Therapeutic Challenges, and Emerging Threats

Abstract

The Enterococcus species originates as non-harmful bacteria indigenous to human intestines but has transformed into severe hospital-acquired pathogens due to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The clinical species Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium create the most relevant infections because they appear in urinary tract infections, bloodstream infections, endocarditis, and wound infections. Enterococcus species demonstrate multiple antibiotic class resistance and resistance determinant acquisition properties that make treatment difficult for medical professionals. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) together with high-level aminoglycoside-resistant strains and resistance to both linezolid and daptomycin have exhausted available treatment options. The review investigates the development process of Enterococcus infections by examining virulence characteristics, which involve biofilm production and defense mechanisms against the immune response and transmission of resistance genes. A thorough investigation of medical publications used Google Scholar along with PubMed and ScienceDirect and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) as appropriate search terms. The traditional classification of Enterococcus species from historical context to modern epidemiology and pathogenesis and available treatment and test approaches are explained in this review. This section examines two categories of resistance together with their mechanisms of action with a specific focus on vancomycin resistance produced by van gene clusters as well as its prevalence trends. An examination of how horizontal gene transfer functions in transferring resistance throughout healthcare facilities is included. The paper investigates the different symptoms of enterococcal infections together with diagnostic obstacles and treatment modalities. Drug-resistant Enterococcus infections continue to increase internationally, so healthcare professionals need new therapeutic methods, better antimicrobial policies, and stronger infection prevention measures. The examination surveys Enterococcus infections through an extensive evaluation of developing resistance patterns combined with emerging intervention requirements.

Keywords: enterococcus faecalis (e. faecalis); enterococcus faecium; group d streptococcus; healthcare-associated infection (hai); linezolid (lzd); vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (vre); vitek 2.

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