The rate of infection is highest among the elderly, particularly those with indwelling catheters (long-term catheterization) or under frequent antibiotic therapy Footnote 1 Footnote 4 Footnote 5. are generally considered pathogenic for young individuals and opportunistic pathogens for the elderly Footnote 4. They are important causative agents in community-acquired and nosocomial UTIs within Europe and North America, 4 to 6% of Proteus infections are community-acquired and 3 to 6% are nosocomial Footnote 3. They are also widespread in the environment, including animals, soil, and polluted water.
are part of the human intestinal flora Footnote 1 Footnote 3- Footnote 5. infections occur worldwide and Proteus spp. mirabilis causes the most infections among all Proteus spp.ĮPIDEMIOLOGY: Proteus spp. This causes a decrease in the urine pH and may eventually lead to the formation of kidney or bladder stones. release urease, which catalyzes the conversion of urea into ammonia and CO 2 Footnote 3 Footnote 5. After attachment and colonization within the urinary tract, Proteus spp. Other infections include septicaemia and wound infections. Rare cases of bacteraemia, associated with UTIs, with Proteus spp. They generally affect the upper urinary tract (common site of infection), causing infections such as urolithiasis (stone formation in kidney or bladder) Footnote 3 Footnote 4, cystitis Footnote 4, and acute pyelonephritis. are commonly associated with complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) Footnote 1 Footnote 3- Footnote 5. They are part of normal flora of human gastrointestinal tract.
They are urease positive and form swarmer cells which allow for swarming motility on solid media. Members of the Enterobacteriaceae family generally range from 0.3 to 1.0 mm in width and 0.6 to 6.0 mm in length Footnote 3. consist of Gram-negative, motile, aerobic rod-shaped bacilli belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae Footnote 3 Footnote 4. rettgeri with Providencia rettgeri Footnote 2.ĬHARACTERISTICS: Proteus spp.
morganii with Morganella morganii, and P. inconstans with Providencia alcalifaciens, P. Former species of genus Proteus now homotypic synonyms with other species: P. SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: Sometimes referred as members of the Proteeae tribe Footnote 1. PATHOGEN SAFETY DATA SHEET - INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES SECTION I - INFECTIOUS AGENT