Enterococcus faecium
Useful mainly for shortening acute or antibiotic-associated diarrhea in otherwise healthy people.
Quick decision guide
May help most
shortening acute or antibiotic-associated diarrhea in otherwise healthy people
Common dosing range
1–10 billion CFU/day
When to expect effects
Days
Watch out for
avoid in immunocompromised or critically ill people; strain must be screened for transferable vancomycin resistance
What is it
Enterococcus faecium is a lactic acid bacterium used in some probiotic products, particularly the strain SF68 (Cernivet/Bioflorin) studied for diarrhea. It is part of the normal human gut flora.
Is it worth it for you?
Use this as a quick fit check, not a diagnosis.
Worth considering if…
Probably skip if…
Evidence at a glance
| Goal | Effect | Best fit | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
acute and antibiotic-associated diarrhea Limited Evidence | Modest reduction in duration | otherwise healthy adults with acute or antibiotic-associated diarrhea | Days |
acute and antibiotic-associated diarrhea
- Effect
- Modest reduction in duration
- Best fit
- otherwise healthy adults with acute or antibiotic-associated diarrhea
- Time
- Days
Evidence for 1 use
AI-assisted evidence assessment — talk to your doctor before relying on any single supplement.
acute and antibiotic-associated diarrhea
Supplement benefitStrain-specific trials of Enterococcus faecium (notably SF68) report modest shortening of acute and antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Evidence comes from small studies, and benefits are tied to the specific characterized strain rather than the species as a whole. Most data predate modern probiotic trial standards.
Bottom line: A characterized E. faecium strain may modestly shorten a diarrheal episode in healthy people, but the evidence base is small.
How it works
How to take it
What to track
2 commercial forms
Compare the main delivery options and what they’re best suited for.
E. faecium SF68
Used in some European and veterinary probiotics.
Studied probiotic strain.
Multi-strain probiotic with E. faecium
Common form in supplements.
Usually combined with Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium.
Safety
Know the common side effects, key cautions, and who should avoid it.
Common side effects
Serious risks
bacteremia in immunocompromised or critically ill patients
potential to carry transferable vancomycin resistance if strain is uncharacterized
Who should avoid it
- immunocompromised people
- critically ill patients
- people with central venous catheters
- people with prosthetic heart valves (consult a clinician)
Pregnancy & breastfeeding
Pregnancy data are limited; consult a clinician before use.
Interactions
in immunocompromised individuals, live bacteria plus antibiotics warrant caution
Choosing a product
What to look for on the label — and what to be skeptical of.
Look for…
Be skeptical of…
Frequently asked questions
Is E. faecium safe?⌄
Probiotic strains screened for resistance genes are generally safe in healthy people. Hospital-associated strains are a different organism even if same species.
Why is E. faecium controversial?⌄
The species includes pathogenic, antibiotic-resistant strains in clinical settings. Probiotic strains must be carefully characterized.
References by claim
Track Enterococcus faecium with Pilora
Set up dose reminders, check interactions, and join the community in the Pilora iPhone app.
Coming to App StoreDisclaimer: These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA. This page is educational, not a substitute for personalized medical advice. Evidence grades are AI-assisted assessments — talk to your doctor before starting any new supplement, especially if you’re pregnant, breastfeeding, on medications, or managing a chronic condition.