Enterococcus faecium is a species of intestinal bacterium. It is also well known in research on healthcare-associated and resistant infections. A GI-MAP stool result cannot determine whether you carry one of those clinically concerning strains simply from the species name.
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Why hospital findings cannot be applied to every stool result
Research comparing intestinal Enterococcus isolates has found differences between hospital and community populations. Characteristics of selected hospital strains do not describe every E. faecium organism. Intestinal carriage, resistance and active infection are separate questions. [1]
What the GI-MAP measurement means
The E. faecium entry measures targeted DNA in stool. It is separate from E. faecalis and the broader Enterococcus group. A result above range does not demonstrate that this organism is causing symptoms or that it has spread beyond the gut. [2]
What it cannot say about antibiotic resistance
“E. faecium detected” is not equivalent to “VRE detected.” VRE means vancomycin-resistant enterococci, a conclusion requiring relevant laboratory evidence. A stool quantity is also not a complete antibiotic-susceptibility panel.
If you have a hospital screening result or culture report as well, bring both. They may use different methods and answer a different question from GI-MAP. Do not use a lower GI-MAP number as proof that a previously documented resistant strain has cleared.
Common questions
Is E. faecium the same as E. faecalis?
No. They are different species within one genus and may differ in clinically relevant ways.
Can a high stool result diagnose a bloodstream infection?
No. A person with fever or signs of serious illness needs clinical assessment and appropriate specimens, regardless of the stool result.
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.