Study on pathogenesis of Enterococcus faecalis in urinary tract.

The rate of isolation of Enterococcus faecalis as the causative bacterium of complicated urinary tract infections has been increasing. However, the pathogenicity of this bacterium in the urinary tract has not been clarified. Thus, the authors investigated how E. faecalis is pathogenic to the urinary tract, using mice with experimental urinary tract infection. The investigation revealed that this bacterium when sufficiently numerous can be directly pathogenic. The bacterium can be pathogenic indirectly when present with other typical urinary bacteria such as E. coli.