Proteus Research Paper
Proteus mirabilis is a small gram-negative bacteria bacilli and a facultative anaerobe. A facultative anaerobe is when an organism can live in the absence or presence of oxygen. It is also a prokaryote, a single celled organism lacking a cell membrane bound nucleus, and can be divided into bacteria and archaea. Proteus mirabilis is characterized by their motility, its ability to distinguish maltose, and its inability to distinguish lactose. Proteus has the ability to stretch itself out and secrete a polysaccharide when in contact with solid surfaces, in result making it extremely motile on items like medical equipment such as an indwelling urinary catheter. Proteus is part of the normal flora in the gastrointestinal tract and can also be found
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free living in water and soil.
The flagellum of Proteus is critical to its motility, a feature that helps this organism settle.
Flagellum aids in the bacteria’s resistance to defenses of the host and select antibiotics. Proteus is also urease positive allowing it to raise its PH which ultimately can lead to stone formation in the kidneys otherwise known as kidney stones. If someone presents with severe kidney stones, surgery is necessary to remove the blockage.
Proteus organisms are easily recovered through routine laboratory cultures. Most strains are lactose-negative meaning their pH level has dropped, any positive culture resulting from an otherwise sterile area should be considered to be an acute infection especially in the presence of clinical signs and symptoms.
The most common infection where Proteus is found are urinary tract infections, because the bacteria gains access to the urethra and urinary bladder. However these urinary tract infections are usually found in patients under long-term catheter use, seen mostly in nursing home patients because medical materials used in nursing homes are not properly sanitized resulting in a Proteus infection. UTI’s are commonly found in sexually active individuals and those that have unprotected sex. Signs and symptoms of Proteus and UTI’s are dark and smelly urine and possibly even blood in urine as well as an increase urge to urinate regardless of the amount of urine actually coming out. Proteus mirabilis can also enter the bloodstream through wounds, the bacteria
induce an inflammatory response that can cause sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome
Proteus mirabilis infections can be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics such as penicillins or cephalosporins. It has been found that there is an increasing drug resistance to ampicillin, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxin.
Prevention of infection includes good sterilization of medical equipment, sanitation and proper hand hygiene. It is highly recommended to avoid the use of indwelling catheters if possible.. An alkaline urine sample is a possible sign of Proteus mirabilis.
free living in water and soil.
The flagellum of Proteus is critical to its motility, a feature that helps this organism settle.
Flagellum aids in the bacteria’s resistance to defenses of the host and select antibiotics. Proteus is also urease positive allowing it to raise its PH which ultimately can lead to stone formation in the kidneys otherwise known as kidney stones. If someone presents with severe kidney stones, surgery is necessary to remove the blockage.
Proteus organisms are easily recovered through routine laboratory cultures. Most strains are lactose-negative meaning their pH level has dropped, any positive culture resulting from an otherwise sterile area should be considered to be an acute infection especially in the presence of clinical signs and symptoms.
The most common infection where Proteus is found are urinary tract infections, because the bacteria gains access to the urethra and urinary bladder. However these urinary tract infections are usually found in patients under long-term catheter use, seen mostly in nursing home patients because medical materials used in nursing homes are not properly sanitized resulting in a Proteus infection. UTI’s are commonly found in sexually active individuals and those that have unprotected sex. Signs and symptoms of Proteus and UTI’s are dark and smelly urine and possibly even blood in urine as well as an increase urge to urinate regardless of the amount of urine actually coming out. Proteus mirabilis can also enter the bloodstream through wounds, the bacteria
induce an inflammatory response that can cause sepsis and systemic inflammatory response syndrome
Proteus mirabilis infections can be treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics such as penicillins or cephalosporins. It has been found that there is an increasing drug resistance to ampicillin, trimethoprim, and ciprofloxin.
Prevention of infection includes good sterilization of medical equipment, sanitation and proper hand hygiene. It is highly recommended to avoid the use of indwelling catheters if possible.. An alkaline urine sample is a possible sign of Proteus mirabilis.