No abstract available.
Endophthalmitis ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus

We investigated the antibiotic susceptibility of glycopeptide-resistant enterococci (GRE). Seventy consecutive GRE were tested. Sixty-two isolates were identified as Enterococcus faecium (88.6%), and 8 (11.4%) as Enterococcus faecalis. All strains were susceptible to linezolid and daptomycin, while 17.1% (12/70) and 11.4% (8/70) were resistant to quinupristin/dalfopristin (QD) and tigecycline, respectively. All E. faecalis isolates were resistant to QD, while 4 of 62 (6.5%) E. faecium isolates were resistant to QD. All E. faecalis isolates were susceptible to tigecycline, while 14.5% (9/62) E. faecium isolates were resistant. Continued surveillance of GRE antibiotic susceptibilities is important for combating these multi-resistant nosocomial pathogens.
Daptomycin* ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus faecium ; Linezolid ; Teicoplanin

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to provide photodynamic bactericidal effect against Enterococcus faecalis by erythrosine concentrations and LED irradiation times. METHODS: Erythrosine was used as a photosensitizer and green LED (3 Watt, 520-530 nm) was used as light source. E. faecalis ATCC 1943 and E. faecalis ATCC 29212 were used in this study. Approximately 10(5) CFU of bacteria were added in wells of a 96-well microtitration plate. For examining the effects of concentrations of erythrosine, 0, 0.625, 1.25, 2.5, 5, and 10 microM of erythrosine were added in wells containing bacteria. The irradiation time with LED was 30 sec. In another set of experiment, the effect of irradiation time for killing of bacteria was investigated by increasing irradiation time from 0 to 30 s with 10 microM of erythrosine final concentration. After irradiation, each sample was serially diluted with PBS and 50 microl of diluents was spread on duplicate blood agar plates. The plates were incubated for 72 h at 37degrees C under aerobic conditions and the number of CFU was determined. The experiments were repeated four times. The results were analyzed using one-way ANOVA, and Tukey's multiple comparison at a significance level of 0.05. RESULTS: When the erythrosine concentrations were more than 2.5 microM, E. faecalis ATCC 29212 was significantly decreased (P<0.05). The more erythrosine concentrations increased, the more E. faecalis ATCC 1943 decreased statistically significantly (P<0.05). In another set of experiment, when LED irradiation time was more than 20 s, E. faecalis ATCC 1943 decreased significantly (P<0.05), and if the irradiation times was more than 5 s, E. faecalis ATCC 29212 decreased significantly (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: PDT using erythrosine and green LED was found to be an effective method in killing E. faecalis.
Agar ; Bacteria ; Enterococcus faecalis* ; Erythrosine* ; Homicide ; Photochemotherapy

Non-faecalis and non-faecium enterococci are an occasional cause of bacteremia, and some cases of infective endocarditis caused by these pathogens have been reported. However, the rate of infective endocarditis in non-faecalis and non-faecium enterococcal bacteremia is still undetermined. We compared the clinical features and the rate of infective endocarditis of 70 cases of non-faecalis and non-faecium enterococcal bacteremia with those of 65 cases of Enterococcus faecalis bacteremia. Non-faecalis and non-faecium enterococcal bacteremia was more frequently associated with biliary tract infection and polymicrobial bacteremia, and was less frequently associated with infective endocarditis, than was E. faecalis bacteremia (57% vs. 28%, p<0.01; 47% vs. 31%, p=0.05; 1% vs. 14%, p<0.01, respectively).
Bacteremia ; Biliary Tract ; Endocarditis ; Enterococcus faecalis

The purpose of this study was to observe the effect of canal filling on the bacteria left in the dentinal tubules and to compare the sealing ability between Gutta-percha and Resilon. The bovine dentin block models were prepared. E. faecalis was inoculated to dentin blocks and incubated. The dentin blocks were divided into 5 groups. Group 1 was the negative control. Group 2 was the positive control. Group 3 was filled with ZOE based sealer and Gutta-percha, Group 4 with resin based sealer and Gutta-percha, and Group 5 with resin based sealer and Resilon. After 24 hour, the blocks were incubated at 37degrees C for 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks on BHI agar plates. The internal dentin portion of the blocks was removed using ISO 027, 029, 031, 035 round burs and the dentin chips were incubated at 37degrees C for 24 hour. Following incubation, the optical density of the medium was measured. The data were statistically analysed using repeated measures ANOVA and one-way ANOVA. The results were as follows, 1. There was statistically significant reduction in the number of E. faecalis of the group where dentinal tubules were completely sealed with nail varnish in comparison with the groups obturated with gutta-percha or resilon (p < 0.05). 2. In group 5, the number of E. faecalis in the dentinal tubules decreased significantly with time (p < 0.05), whereas in Group 3 and 4, there was no reduction in its number (p > 0.05). 3. Under the conditions of this experiment, E. faecalis survived up to 4 weeks after obturation with gutta-percha or resilon (p > 0.05).
Agar ; Bacteria ; Dentin* ; Enterococcus faecalis* ; Enterococcus* ; Gutta-Percha* ; Paint

BACKGROUND: Three chromogenic media using direct inoculation were compared with enriched enterococcosel broth for vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and/or Enterococcus faecalis (VRE) surveillance. METHODS: A total of 174 rectal swabs were included for VRE surveillance. The specimens were transferred in enterococcosel broth (EB). An aliquot of the broth was inoculated onto Brilliance VRE, chromID VRE, and VRESelect media and incubated for up to 48 h. We examined each media and EB after 24 h and 48 h of incubation. When appropriately colored colonies were observed, identification was confirmed using the VITEK-2 system and/or VITEK MS. Vancomycin susceptibility was confirmed by disk diffusion test. The presence of resistance genes was confirmed using Anyplex VanR Real-time Detection (Seegene, Korea). RESULTS: Of the 174 rectal swab specimens, 73 VRE were isolated. For enterococcosel broth, Brilliance VRE, chromID VRE, and VRESelect, the sensitivity at 24 h was 79.2%, 83.3%, 79.2%, and 79.2%, respectively. The sensitivity at 48 h was 91.7%, 93.1%, 91.4%, and 90.3%, respectively. The specificity at 24 h was 85.3%, 97.1%, 98.0%, and 98.0%, while that at 48 h was 79.4%, 85.3%, 95.2%, and 95.1%, respectively. The specificity of chromogenic media at 24 h and 48 h was significantly higher than that of EB. Furthermore, the specificity at 48 h was significantly higher for chromID VRE and VRESelect than Brilliance VRE, although color distinction was easier with VRESelect. CONCLUSION: Based on our results, use of chromID VRE or VRESelect is more reliable and convenient for screening of VRE. In addition, five vanA-positive Enterococcus gallinarum, Enterococcus avium and Enterococcus durans were isolated, and two of them (one E. avium and one E. durans) were detected only on VRESelect.
Diffusion ; Enterococcus ; Enterococcus faecalis ; Enterococcus faecium ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vancomycin

The aim of this study was to investigate antimicrobial effect of oleanolic acid (OA), ursolic acid (UA), and sophoraflavanone G against Enterococcus faecalis and Propionibacterium acnes, which are the major causative bacteria of endodontic infections. The antimicrobial activity was evaluated by the minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC). The data showed that the OA, UA, and sophoraflavanone G had antimicrobial effect on all the strains use in the study with 16-64 microg/ml, 8-64 microg/ml, and 1-8 microg/ml of MIC values, respectively. These results indicate that OA, UA, and sophoraflavanone G could be useful in the development of antiseptic solution for washing the root canal in endodontic treatments.
Bacteria ; Dental Pulp Cavity ; Enterococcus faecalis* ; Oleanolic Acid* ; Propionibacterium acnes*

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the release of matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) and apoptosis rate of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) after PMNs was triggered by Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) in vitro.

METHODSThe activated E. faecalis suspension was prepared and added to PMNs suspension as experiment group. As a positive control, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was used. As negative control, PMNs suspension was incubated with PBS. The release of MMP-8 was measured at 0, 20, 60, 120 min by ELISA method. E. faecalis lysate acted on PMNs as experiment group, PMNs suspension was incubated with PBS as negative control, samples in two groups were incubated at 37 degrees C for 2, 5, 10, 15 h. The apoptosis rate of PMNs was tested by Flow Cytometry.

RESULTSAt 0 min, there was no significant difference of MMP-8 release in the experiment group and positive control (P>0.01); whereas at 60, 120 min, E. faecalis induced a significant lower MMP-8 release compared with the positive control (P<0.01). The apoptosis rate of PMNs in both groups increased along with time, and apoptotic rate in experiment group was higher than that in the control group at 2, 5, 10, 15 h (P<0.01).

CONCLUSIONAfter E. faecalis act on PMNs, no significant release of MMP-8 from PMNs was observed. E. faecalis don't induce PMNs apoptosis delay.

OBJECTIVETo evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of KaVo KEY laser on Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) within infected root canals and roots surface in vitro.

METHODSFifty single-rooted teeth were selected, and infected root canals and roots surface vitro models were prepared. Then, these specimens were divided into three groups. First group were untreated as blank control. The other two groups were the laser groups: Irradiated 15 s and 30 s respectively with 80 mJ and 140 mJ in root canals and on roots surface. Microbiological samples were collected from root canals and roots surface at two time points (before irrigation and immediately after irrigation). The dentin chips from three different zone of part of root canals in each group were immediately collected and were cultured for 24 h in brain heart infusion (BHI).

RESULTSThe number of E. faecalis in root canal and root surface in each of the groups were effectively reduced (P < 0.05), and there was no significant difference between each two groups (P > 0.05). Compared with the blank control, the bacterial number in 100 microm of dental tubules decreased after specimens treated with 80 mJ, and the experimental group irradiated 15 s was a significant decease (P < 0.05). The other groups were no changed in different zone of dental tubules.

CONCLUSIONKaVo KEY laser is effective on sterilizing infected root canals and roots surface. It has also significant effect on bacterial in superficial dental tubules with low energy and short time.

OBJECTIVETo observe the surface of Enterococcus faecalis and the dynamic forming process of those biofilms using atomic force microscopy (AFM) in air condition.

METHODSThe surface of Enterococcus faecalis which were dried in air were observed with AFM. We used the cellulose nitrate film to construct the Enterococcus faecalis biofilms model in vitro, and then placed the biofilms under AFM to observe the surface changes of biofilms' development.

RESULTSThe cell surfaces of strain Enterococcus faecalis were not regular because of the presence of the amorphous substance on the colony surface, which congregated globular, fibrous structure. Gradually determined that at 6 h the initial biofilm formed and at 24 h the biofilms maintained the steady-state. AFM height images showed topographical changes due to biofilms' development, which were used to characterize several aspects of the bacterial surface, such as the presence of extracellular polymeric substance, and the biofilms' development stage.

CONCLUSIONApplication of AFM in physiological conditions could be useful in observing Enterococcus faecalis surface ultrastructure and dynamic process of biofilms formation.