Enterococcus faecalis is a bacterial species that can live in the intestine. It can also cause infection in other clinical settings. A high stool result therefore needs a different interpretation from a positive blood culture or a urine culture collected for urinary symptoms.
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How E. faecalis relates to Enterococcus
E. faecalis is one species within the Enterococcus genus. It is distinct from E. faecium. Human studies have found both species in intestinal samples, including in people outside hospital settings. Finding the species is not, by itself, evidence of invasive disease. [1]
What GI-MAP reports
GI-MAP provides a species-targeted DNA result. A high flag means the measured amount exceeds the laboratory’s range for that assay; it does not directly demonstrate tissue invasion or an inflammatory response. A species name also does not identify the strain’s full genetic or antibiotic-resistance profile. [2]
What the finding cannot diagnose
It cannot establish a urinary tract infection, heart-valve infection or bloodstream infection. Those concerns require assessment of symptoms and the relevant body site. It also cannot explain abdominal symptoms solely because the value is high.
If the genus and E. faecalis lines differ, do not assume the report is inconsistent or add the figures together. The targets and reporting rules can differ. Ask the laboratory about overlap if that comparison matters to interpretation.
Common questions
Does this mean I have vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus?
No. The species quantity does not establish vancomycin resistance. That requires appropriate resistance or susceptibility evidence.
Should high E. faecalis be eradicated from the gut?
A flag alone is not an indication for eradication. A clinician should identify whether there is an actual infection or another reason to intervene.
Sources and review
Sources checked October 7, 2026. Manufacturer material describes the test; clinical guidance and research support the interpretation limits.
- Population biology of intestinal Enterococcus isolates, 2015
- Diagnostic Solutions Laboratory: GI-MAP interpretive guide (manufacturer specifications)
Medical review of this article is pending. For a correction or source question, contact GI MAP Test.