Enterococci/Group D Streptococci

Enterococci are gram-positive, asporgenous, facultatively anaerobic cocci that grow in chains which make it difficult to distinguish from Streptococcus. Originally, Group D was considered part of the Streptococcus genus for this reason but was later reclassified as Enterococcus. These organisms dwel in the intestinal tract of humans and animals but exhibit a great tolerance for environmental extremes including temperature, pH and sodium levels as well as antibiotic resistance.