What does enterococcus mean?
An enterococcus is any bacterium belonging to the genus Enterococcus, a group of Gram-positive, spherical microorganisms that live harmlessly as part of the normal flora of the human and animal intestine. Although ordinarily benign within the gut, these bacteria become dangerous when they spread beyond their usual habitat — entering the urinary tract, wounds, heart valves, or bloodstream — where they can cause urinary tract infections, endocarditis, bacteraemia, and wound infections. Enterococci are notorious for their hardiness: they tolerate a wide range of temperatures, high salt concentrations, and bile, and several species have acquired resistance to multiple antibiotics, including vancomycin. The best-known species are Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium, frequent culprits in hospital-acquired infections. In everyday speech the plural form 'enterococci' is common, and clinicians often refer to resistant strains by the acronym VRE. The word derives from Greek roots meaning 'intestine' and 'berry'.
nounAny of a genus (Enterococcus) of Gram-positive, spherical bacteria that are normal inhabitants of the human intestine but can cause serious infections such as urinary tract infections, endocarditis, and wound infections.
- A bacterium of the genus Enterococcus, normally found in the intestinal tract but capable of causing opportunistic infections.
"The patient's bloodstream infection was traced to a strain of enterococcus resistant to vancomycin."
"Cultures from the wound revealed a heavy growth of enterococcus."
"Enterococcus faecium has emerged as one of the leading causes of hospital-acquired infection worldwide."
Standard Latinate plural used in medical and scientific writing; the anglicised form 'enterococcuses' is not used.
"Enterococci are among the most common causes of healthcare-associated urinary tract infections."
The word enterococcus literally means 'intestine berry' — a tiny gut dweller that becomes a hospital nightmare when it picks up antibiotic resistance.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of enterococcus
The word enterococcus was coined in the early twentieth century from two Greek elements: 'enteron', meaning intestine, and 'kokkos', meaning berry or grain, reflecting both the organism's intestinal habitat and its round shape under the microscope. It belongs to the same naming tradition as other bacterial genera ending in '-coccus', such as staphylococcus and streptococcus. Cognates built on 'enteron' include medical terms like enteritis and gastroenterology, while 'kokkos' also underlies words such as coccolith in geology and botany.
Related word forms
How enterococcus is actually used
A technical term used almost exclusively in medical, microbiological, and scientific contexts. The plural 'enterococci' is standard in formal writing; the adjective form 'enterococcal' appears frequently in clinical literature. Species names are conventionally italicised (e.g., Enterococcus faecalis) in scientific text.
Easily confused with enterococcus
Staphylococcus refers to a different genus of Gram-positive bacteria that cluster like grapes, whereas Enterococcus is an intestinal bacterium that typically occurs in pairs or short chains.