The selective nature of Hektoen-enteric agar is due to the inclusion of which component?

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Multiple Choice

The selective nature of Hektoen-enteric agar is due to the inclusion of which component?

Explanation:
Bile salts provide the selective property of this medium. They inhibit the growth of most Gram-positive bacteria while allowing Gram-negative enteric organisms to grow, which is exactly what Hektoen-enteric agar is designed to isolate. The other components serve differential purposes—such as indicating acid production from lactose/sucrose fermentation or detecting hydrogen sulfide—but they do not establish selectivity in the same way that bile salts do.

Bile salts provide the selective property of this medium. They inhibit the growth of most Gram-positive bacteria while allowing Gram-negative enteric organisms to grow, which is exactly what Hektoen-enteric agar is designed to isolate. The other components serve differential purposes—such as indicating acid production from lactose/sucrose fermentation or detecting hydrogen sulfide—but they do not establish selectivity in the same way that bile salts do.

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