Does S epidermidis ferment on MSA?

Staphylococcus epidermidis does not ferment mannitol on Mannitol Salt Agar (MSA). Instead, it typically appears as red or pink colonies because it does not produce acid from mannitol fermentation, which would turn the medium yellow. MSA is selective for staphylococci and differentiates between mannitol fermenters and non-fermenters.