Enterococci are Gram-positive cocci and are part of the normal intestinal flora. This bacterium may cause severe infections in patients with critical underlying diseases who underwent an antibiotic treatment. Its clinical importance is given by the increasing incidence and by its resistance to a wide range of antibiotics. Usually it is involved in urinary tract infections, intraabdominal and pelvic infections, however, rarely it can cause severe, life-threatening respiratory tract infections. We present the case of a community-acquired pneumonia complicated with extensive congestion and pleural effusion, E. faecium being incriminated as the etiological agent.
Keywords: community-acquired pneumonia, Enterococcus faecium