Pathogenicity of enterococci outside of urinary tract and blood stream.

It is evident at this time that enterococci by themselves are able to cause infections outside the bloodstream and the urinary tract only rarely and under very special circumstances in which local defense mechanisms are severely compromised (e.g., by plastic devices). In most instances, they have been found in mixed culture and probably act synergistically with other bacteria to cause damage to the host. They could, however, be carried from their habitat into the bloodstream and eventually cause septicemia. Such a danger is probably heightened if supercolonization is fostered through antibiotics that are ineffective against them, e.g., cephalosporins.