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IV Treatments for Enterococcus Faecalis

The Enterococcus faecalis bacterium, or E. faecalis, is part of the normal environment of the stomach and intestine. When there is an overgrowth of Enterococcus faecalis, illness can result. Vancomycin-resistant enterococci, or VRE, is a mutation of this bacterium. It can't be treated effectively by the antibiotic vancomycin.

  1. History

    • One third of the infections in hospital intensive-care units in 2004 were caused by VRE, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

    Types

    • Antibiotics delivered intravenously are used to treat Enterococcus faecalis. IV treatments such as lancomycin, ampicillin, linezolid, imipenem-cilastatin, Rocephin, and Synercid are used alone or in combinations.

    Considerations

    • Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecalis is also resistant to ampicillin. These two are strong antibiotics, and resistance to them hinders treatment.

    Side Effects

    • Possible adverse effects common to IV treatments for Enterococcus faecalis include nausea, diarrhea, upset stomach, rash and allergic reaction.

    Function

    • Depending on the severity of the infection, a patient can need up to eight weeks of IV treatment. The medications might be administered four or more times a day.

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