The Virulence of Enterococcus faecalis in Experimental Urinary Tract Infection in Mice

The virulence of Enterococcus faecalis in the urinary tract in mice was studied. Pyelonephritis was distinctly caused by E. faecalis which have a high affinity to mouse kidneys. This infection was continuous, but did not turn into sepsis. The relationship between the production of hemolysin or protease and the virulence in the urinary tract was investigated without finding any distinct association. It is concluded that E. faecalis is a pathogenic organism in the urinary tract and presumably induces a severe infection in the compromised host.