Read condition-specific symptoms and clinical context for Enterococcus faecalis. A normal gut resident found in most people, and an opportunist in urine, wounds and the bloodstream.
PHAC describes enterococci as normal inhabitants of the intestinal tract, the female genital tract and, less commonly, the oral cavity, and records E. faecalis as the species most frequently isolated from human intestine samples at 80 to 90%. CDC adds that enterococci are normally found in human intestines, the female genital tract and the environment. The same organism can cause urinary tract, wound and soft-tissue infections and bacteraemia that may lead to endocarditis on previously damaged heart valves. Strains resistant to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides and, increasingly, vancomycin have been described.
One possible infection setting for this organism. These are general syndrome symptoms, not signs that identify the bacterium. Other infection sites can present differently.
Possible symptoms: Burning with urination; Frequent urge to urinate; Lower abdominal discomfort.
Contact a healthcare professional for urinary symptoms. Fever, chills, vomiting or back/side pain may indicate kidney involvement and need prompt assessment.
Presence at a normal body site does not by itself establish disease.
No infection symptoms are assigned to ordinary carriage. Clinical assessment distinguishes colonization from infection.
This app cannot determine whether a person has an infection.
Source check: 2026-09-19. Educational content; independent scientific review remains pending.