Enterococcus faecium is a Gram-positive, alpha-hemolytic or nonhemolytic bacterium in the genus Enterococcus. It can be commensal (innocuous, coexisting organism) in the human intestine, but it may also be pathogenic, causing diseases such as neonatal meningitis or endocarditis. Vancomycin-resistant E. faecium is often referred to as VRE. Some strains of E. faecium are used as probiotics in both animals and humans.