What is the Difference Between Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium?

Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are both bacteria that can cause various infections, but they have some differences in their characteristics and clinical relevance.

• Virulence: Enterococcus faecalis is considered more virulent or pathogenic than Enterococcus faecium.
• Antibiotic Resistance: E. faecium is responsible for most of the vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections and is more likely to be resistant to commonly used antibiotics such as ampicillin. In contrast, E. faecalis is more frequently retrieved from sites of infection.
• Clinical Isolates: E. faecalis isolates show high-level resistance to gentamicin and streptomycin, while E. faecium isolates show high-level resistance to other antibiotics.
• Genomic Features: Nonclinical and clinical E. faecium strains have distinct structural and functional genomic features, while E. faecalis strains do not show such differences.
• Prevalence in Bloodstream Infections: E. faecium is becoming more predominant in enterococcal bloodstream infections in the UK, with a growing proportion of E. faecium in bloodstream infections over time.

In summary, while both Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium can cause infections, E. faecalis is considered more virulent, and E. faecium is more often antibiotic-resistant and predominant in bloodstream infections in the UK.

Comparative Table: Enterococcus faecalis vs Enterococcus faecium

Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium are two species of bacteria that are part of the human gastrointestinal tract microbiota. They can also be found in various environmental sources, such as water and soil. Here is a table comparing the differences between Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium:

While there are some differences in antimicrobial susceptibility and resistance patterns between the two species, they share many similarities in their environmental and clinical distribution. Additionally, both species have been found to possess mobile genetic elements, such as plasmids and transposons, which can contribute to the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Further research is needed to better understand the genetic basis for the differences between these two species and their roles in human health and disease.