Abstract

Enterococci have been recognised as being potentially pathogenic for humans since the early 1900s, when they were well establish as a cause of endocarditis and urinary tract infections. This observation strongly supports the existence of additional virulence properties that may facilitate or enhance virulence of enterococci associated with infections. These include Cytolysin, aggregation substance, extracellular superoxide, surface carbohydrate and surface proteins such as Esp, Gelatinase. One hundred and twenty-five isolates of Enterococcus species from various clinical specimens were evaluated for the presence of virulence determinants like hemolysin production, gelatinase production and biofilm formation by phenotypic tests. A total of 125 Enterococcus isolates, 84 are Enterococcus faecalis and 41 are Enterococcus faecium. Of the 84 species of Enterococcus faecalis tested for the production of haemolysin, 43.2% shows beta haemolysis on blood agar, 10.7% shows gelatinase production and 33.3 % shows biofilm production. In case of Enterococcus faecium 43.6 shows beta haemolysis, 14.6% shows gelatinase and 39% shows biofilm production. We conclude the virulence determinants have been widely prevalent in enterococcal isolates from clinical origin.

Description