ENTEROCOCCAL INFECTION Meaning and
Definition
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Enterococcal infection refers to an infectious disease caused by the bacteria belonging to the genus Enterococcus. Enterococci are gram-positive, facultative anaerobic bacteria that are commonly found in the gastrointestinal tract of humans and animals. Although enterococci are commensal organisms, they can cause various types of infections when they gain access to other parts of the body or find suitable conditions for overgrowth.
Enterococcal infections can occur in different areas of the body, including the urinary tract, bloodstream, abdominal cavity, wound sites, and even the heart. Urinary tract infections, known as enterococcal UTIs, are particularly common, often associated with the presence of indwelling catheters or structural abnormalities in the urinary system. Other infections caused by enterococci include bacteremia (bloodstream infection), endocarditis (infection of the heart valves), peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining), and surgical site infections.
These infections can be challenging to treat due to the intrinsic resistance of enterococci to various antibiotics, as well as their ability to acquire additional forms of resistance. Enterococcal infections are typically treated with combination therapy using antibiotics such as ampicillin, vancomycin, or linezolid, depending on the susceptibility of the specific strain. In severe cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to control the infection or remove affected tissues.
Prevention measures include good hygiene practices, appropriate use of antibiotics, and implementing infection control protocols in healthcare settings. Due to the potential severity and complications associated with enterococcal infections, timely diagnosis and prompt treatment are crucial for successful management and prevention of further spread.
Common Misspellings for ENTEROCOCCAL INFECTION
- wnterococcal infection
- snterococcal infection
- dnterococcal infection
- rnterococcal infection
- 4nterococcal infection
- 3nterococcal infection
- ebterococcal infection
- emterococcal infection
- ejterococcal infection
- ehterococcal infection
- enrerococcal infection
- enferococcal infection
- engerococcal infection
- enyerococcal infection
- en6erococcal infection
- en5erococcal infection
- entwrococcal infection
- entsrococcal infection
- entdrococcal infection
- entrrococcal infection
Etymology of ENTEROCOCCAL INFECTION
The word "enterococcal" is derived from the combination of two root words: "entero-" and "-coccal".
1. "Entero-" is derived from the Greek word "enteron", meaning intestine or bowels. It is often used in medical terminology to refer to the gastrointestinal system.
2. "-Coccal" is derived from the Latin word "coccus", meaning spherical or round. In medical terminology, "-coccal" is used to indicate that a microorganism causing the infection has a spherical or round shape.
Therefore, the term "enterococcal infection" refers to an infection caused by bacteria of the genus Enterococcus, which typically affects the gastrointestinal system.
