Phenylethyl Alcohol Agar (PEA Agar)

Phenylethyl Alcohol Agar (PEA Agar) is a specialized growth medium used in microbiology labs to isolate Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus and Streptococcus species, from specimens that may contain a mixture of bacterial flora. The key feature of PEA Agar is its selective nature, achieved by the inclusion of phenylethyl alcohol, which inhibits the growth of Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, allowing for easier identification of Gram-positive organisms