Abstract

The streptococci of Enterococcus genus are important agents in the pathogenesis of many infections. Our analysis included 284 clinical strains of Enterococcus genus. All enterococci were derived from purulent material, and among them 30 strains were isolated as single pathogens. Out of 284 strains, 237 were identified as Enterococcus faecalis and 47 as Enterococcus faecium. In most cases Enterococci were isolated along with other bacteria such as: Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli and other Gram-negative bacilli. Enterococci isolates prevail in material from the departments of surgery, dermatology and from the ICU. The sensitivity of these 284 bacterial strains to ampicillin, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and to glycopeptides such as vancomycin and teicoplanin was evaluated by means of the disc-diffusion method suggested by NCCLS. The strains proved sensitive to b-lactams - Ampicillin in 80%, to high concentrations of aminoglycosides - gentamicin in 69%, to HCL streptomycin in 78% and to the glycopeptides in 100% of the cases.

Keywords: Enterococcus, pus, susceptiblity