Usage Information
Abstract
Enterococci are resistant to penicillin killing in vivo and in vitro. Because some bacteria resistant to penicillin killing have reduced autolytic activity, we examined the lysis of clinical enterococcal isolates suspended in buffer (spontaneous lysis), and compared it with their susceptibility to antibiotic-induced lysis and killing. We found significant correlations between spontaneous and antibiotic-induced lysis, using five antibiotics that inhibit cell wall synthesis (penicillin, cephalothin, bacitracin, cycloserine, and vancomycin). Among isolates, strains more rapidly lysed by one antibiotic were more rapidly lysed by the other antibiotics, and more susceptible to spontaneous lysis. In studies involving a single strain grown in different media, spontaneous lysis also correlated closely with antibiotic-induced lysis. These results are consistent with a common mechanism for spontaneous and antibiotic-induced lysis, such as the autolytic enzyme system. Human serum was one of the least permissive media tested for enterococcal growth and antibiotic-induced lysis and killing. We suggest that the inhibitory effect of human serum on growth and the activation of the enterococcal autolytic enzyme system may be a critical factor in the resistance of enterococcal endocarditis to treatment with penicillin alone.
Authors
G A Storch, D J Krogstad
Usage data is cumulative from November 2024 through November 2025.
| Usage | JCI | PMC |
|---|---|---|
| Text version | 212 | 65 |
| 78 | 14 | |
| Scanned page | 193 | 1 |
| Citation downloads | 60 | 0 |
| Totals | 543 | 80 |
| Total Views | 623 | |
Usage information is collected from two different sources: this site (JCI) and Pubmed Central (PMC). JCI information (compiled daily) shows human readership based on methods we employ to screen out robotic usage. PMC information (aggregated monthly) is also similarly screened of robotic usage.
Various methods are used to distinguish robotic usage. For example, Google automatically scans articles to add to its search index and identifies itself as robotic; other services might not clearly identify themselves as robotic, or they are new or unknown as robotic. Because this activity can be misinterpreted as human readership, data may be re-processed periodically to reflect an improved understanding of robotic activity. Because of these factors, readers should consider usage information illustrative but subject to change.
Copyright © 2025 American Society for Clinical Investigation
ISSN: 0021-9738 (print), 1558-8238 (online)