Proteus species

Background

Microbiology

• Gram-negative bacillus
• Oxidase negative, urease positive
• Part of the flora of the urinary and genital tracts as well as gastrointestinal tract
• Intrinsically resistant to tetracyclines, tigecycline, nitrofurantoin, and colistin
  • Proteus penneri and Proteus vulgaris are also intrinsically resistant to ampicillin, and first- and second-generation cephalosporins

Clinical Manifestations

• Urinary tract infection
  • Urease produces alkaline environment that can cause struvite stones
• Wound infections
• Pneumonia
• Bacteremia