(ent‵ĕ-rō-kok'ŭs )

[entero- + coccus]

A genus of gram-positive cocci of the family Enterococcaceae, formerly classified as part of the genus Streptococcus, but now classified as a separate genus. Of the 12 or more species, E. faecalis and E. faecium are found normally in the human gastrointestinal tract. They may cause urinary tract infections or other serious infections that are resistant to many antibiotics.