Enterococcus faecalis in blood cultures-a prospective study on the role of persistent bacteremia.

Enterococcus faecalis can cause infective endocarditis and other complicated infections. We prospectively investigate the incidence of persistent bacteremia with E. faecalis. Of 50 episodes with monomicrobial E. faecalis bacteremia the control blood culture after 48 to 72 hours was positive in 5 episodes (10%) of which 4 had a complicated focal infection.