Encapsulated Enterococcus faecalis: role of encapsulation in persistence in mouse peritoneum in absence of mouse lethality.

Two nonhemolytic, mucoid, encapsulated strains of Enterococcus faecalis lacked lethality for 23 white mice when inoculated (10(9) cells/mL) intraperitoneally. Bacteremia was short lived (2 to 3 days), but peritoneal cultures remained positive for 7 days postinoculation. Although encapsulation did not result in animal lethality, encapsulation may have delayed peritoneal clearance by interference with phagocytosis.