What does enterococcal mean?
Enterococcal is an adjective meaning related to enterococci, the bacteria belonging to the genus Enterococcus. These organisms normally occur in the intestines of humans and other animals, but they can also cause opportunistic infections, particularly in people who are seriously ill, have recently undergone surgery, or are receiving immunosuppressive treatment. The adjective is commonly used in phrases such as enterococcal infection, enterococcal sepsis, and enterococcal endocarditis. Enterococcal infections have become an important concern in hospitals because some strains possess strong intrinsic resistance to commonly used antibiotics, while others acquire resistance during treatment. Consequently, laboratory identification and susceptibility testing are important in clinical care. Outside medical and microbiological contexts, the word is uncommon, but it is useful because it identifies infections or organisms associated specifically with the Enterococcus genus rather than with intestinal conditions in general.
adjectiveRelating to enterococci, especially to bacteria of the genus Enterococcus or infections caused by them.
- Of or relating to enterococci, especially to infections caused by bacteria of the genus Enterococcus.
"The patient was treated for a severe enterococcal infection after surgery."
"Laboratory tests identified an enterococcal infection in the blood sample."
"Enterococcal endocarditis requires prolonged treatment with carefully selected antibiotics."
Enterococci can be ordinary inhabitants of the human intestine, yet some strains are formidable causes of hospital-associated infection.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does enterococcal come from?
The adjective enterococcal was formed in English by adding the suffix -al to enterococcus. The bacterial name Enterococcus is Latinized from Greek enteron, meaning intestine, and kokkos, meaning berry or kernel, a root also underlying the related word coccus. The entero- element appears in other English words such as enteric, enteritis, and enterocyte.
How enterococcal is actually used
This is primarily a medical and microbiological adjective used in formal and specialist writing. It is not a general synonym for intestinal or gastrointestinal.
Easily confused with enterococcal
Enterococcus is the bacterial genus, whereas enterococcal is the adjective used to describe the organisms or infections they cause.