Rochaix noted the value of esculin hydrolysis in the identification of enterococci.3 The enterococci were able to split esculin,
but other streptococci could not. Meyer and Schonfeld incorporated bile into the esculin medium and showed that 61 of 62
enterococci were able to grow and split esculin, whereas the other streptococci could not.4 Swan used an esculin medium
containing 40% bile salts and reported that a positive reaction on the bile esculin medium correlated with a serological group
D precipitin reaction.5