TY - JOUR
T1 - Pathogenesis of implant infections by enterococci
AU - Baldassarri, Lucilla
AU - Creti, R.
AU - Montanaro, L.
AU - Orefici, G.
AU - Arciola, C. R.
PY - 2005/11
Y1 - 2005/11
N2 - Enterococci are commensals of human and animal intestinal tract that have emerged in the last decades as a major cause of nosocomial infections of bloodstream, urinary tract and in infected surgical sites. Enterococcus faecalis is responsible for ca. 80% of all enterococcal infections while Enterococcus faecium accounts for most of the others; among the most relevant risk factors for development of enterococcal infections is the presence of implanted devices. The pathogenesis of such infections is poorly understood, but several virulence factors have been proposed. Among them, the ability to form biofilm has recently been shown to be one of the most prominent features of this microorganism, allowing colonization of inert and biological surfaces, while protecting against antimicrobial substances, and mediating adhesion and invasion of host cells and survival within professional phagocytes. Biofilm formation has been shown to be particularly important in the development of prosthetic valve enterococcal endocarditis and stent occlusion. Enterococci are also able to express other surface factors that may support colonization of both inert and biological surfaces, and that may be involved in the invasion of, and survival within, the host cell.
AB - Enterococci are commensals of human and animal intestinal tract that have emerged in the last decades as a major cause of nosocomial infections of bloodstream, urinary tract and in infected surgical sites. Enterococcus faecalis is responsible for ca. 80% of all enterococcal infections while Enterococcus faecium accounts for most of the others; among the most relevant risk factors for development of enterococcal infections is the presence of implanted devices. The pathogenesis of such infections is poorly understood, but several virulence factors have been proposed. Among them, the ability to form biofilm has recently been shown to be one of the most prominent features of this microorganism, allowing colonization of inert and biological surfaces, while protecting against antimicrobial substances, and mediating adhesion and invasion of host cells and survival within professional phagocytes. Biofilm formation has been shown to be particularly important in the development of prosthetic valve enterococcal endocarditis and stent occlusion. Enterococci are also able to express other surface factors that may support colonization of both inert and biological surfaces, and that may be involved in the invasion of, and survival within, the host cell.
KW - Biofilm
KW - Enterococci
KW - Medical devices
KW - Virulence
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M3 - Article
C2 - 16353116
AN - SCOPUS:30644470131
VL - 28
SP - 1101
EP - 1109
JO - International Journal of Artificial Organs
JF - International Journal of Artificial Organs
SN - 0391-3988
IS - 11
ER -