Importance of Enterococci (Enterococcus faecalis) for Dental Medicine – Microbiological Characterization, Prevalence and Resistance

Of all the 19 enterococci species present in genus Enterococcus, E. faecalis is the one that plays the most important role in dentistry. Although initially enterococci were considered to be non-virulent, they are now identified as one of the major causes of nosocomial infections worldwide. They are resistant to most antibiotics and can cause diseases such as periodontitis, peri-implantitis, pharyngitis, otitis, mastoidites, meningitis, endocarditis, urogenital tract infections and even septic conditions. As part of the normal intestinal flora, enterococci, together with E. coli, are used as a sanitary indicator for fecal contamination of drinking water. Of all the 19 enterococci species present in genus Enterococcus, E. faecalis is the one that plays the most important role in dentistry. Enterococcus faecalis is associated mostly with persistent infections that are difficult to treat in chronic, apical periodontitis, and recently in periimplantitis also. The assumption that the microorganisms, found in the root canal space, originate from those colonizing saliva and the oral cavity, is widespread. However, the data in the reviewed specialized literature is contradictory.