Remel™ Bile Esculin Agar

Presumptively identify group D Streptococci and Enterococci using Thermo Scientific™ Remel™ Bile Esculin Agar (Dehydrated). Esculin agar containing 40% bile, correlated well with serologically confirmed group D streptococci as reported by Swan¹. Using Swan's formula, Facklam and Moody tested over 700 strains of Streptococci and Enterococci representing all known serological groups and found all strains to be bile-resistant and esculin-positive². Meyer et al. found that 61 of 62 strains of Enterococci hydrolyzed esculin in a medium containing bile³.

This medium contains Oxgall in a concentration of 4% (equivalent to 40% bile) that inhibits most strains of Streptococci and Enterococci other than group D. In the presence of bile, group D Streptococci and Enterococci hydrolyze esculin and form esculetin and dextrose. Ferric ammonium citrate supplies ferric ions which react with esculetin and form brown-black colonies on Bile Esculin Agar.