Phenylethyl alcohol (PEA) agar allows growth of gram-positive organisms, particularly cocci, while inhibiting most gram-negative bacteria and fungi. Specifically, PEA agar is a selective medium that is used for the isolation of gram-positive Staphylococcus species and Streptococcus species from clinical specimens or specimens that contain mixtures of bacterial flora. Typically, PEA agar is used to inhibit common contaminants such as Escherichia coli and Proteus species.
