Antibiotic heteroresistance and persistence: an additional aid in hospital acquired infections by Enterococcus spp.?

• Author(s): Geraldes, Catarina ; Tavares, Luís ; Gil, Solange ; Oliveira, Manuela
• Date: 2024
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.5/97969
• Origin: Repositório da Universidade de Lisboa
• Document Type: Journal article
• Language: English
• Contributor(s): Repositório Científico de Acesso Aberto da ULisboa

Description

Enterococcus, particularly E. faecium and E. faecalis, are responsible for many hospital-acquired infections. With their intrinsic antibiotic resistance and ability to form biofilms, enterococcal infections are already challenging to manage. However, when heterogenous populations are present, such as those exhibiting heteroresistance and persistence, the complexity of these infections increases exponentially not only due to their treatment but also due to their difficult diagnosis. In this study, we provide a summary of the current understanding of both heteroresistance and persistence in terms of mechanisms, diagnosis and treatment and subsequently review recent literature pertaining to these susceptibility types specifically in enterococci.