Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
Turk Hijyen ve Deneysel Biyoloji Dergisi, cilt.73, sa.1, ss.71-80, 2016 (Scopus)
Enterococci, generally considered as normal bowel commensals, are also recognized as opportunistic pathogens and one of the top three bacterias which are the causes of bowine mastitis, nosocomial bloodstream, surgical site, and urinary tract infections as well. Enterococcus faecalis is the most common enterococci species, and it is responsible for 80-90% of human and animal enterococcal infections. Enterococcus faecium accounts for the remainder of infections caused by Enterococcus spp. Biofilms are highly organized structures formed by one or more microorganism species bound together by a carbonhydrate matrix that contain water channels to deliver nutrients and removes wastes. Biofilm structure works as a shield with its exopolysaccharide and protein film layer and often harder to kill them than their planktonic counterparts. Biofilm bacteria are up to 1000 times more resistant to phagocytosis, antibodies and antibiotics. Enterococci can infect humans and domestic animals because of their many virulence factors associated with biofilm formation including gelatinase, aggregation substance, capsule formation, enterococcal surface protein. Furthermore, since they are also resistant against antibiotics such as vancomycin that used at treatment, it is really difficult to eradicate. Many strains of enterococci are resistant to one or more antibiotics and biofilms are thought to contribute to this resistance. In all over the world, to achieve better results at eradication of this organism; structure and molecular mechanism of biofilm need to be understood for determination of new drug dosages and new treatment strategies to eradicate biofilm.