Proteus (bacterium)
Proteus vulgaris on a McConkey agar
Proteus is a genus of Gram-negative Proteobacteria. It is named after the Greek sea god Proteus, which is characterized in the Odyssey of Homer as an external highly changeable.
Features
The genus Proteus is very similar to the genera Providencia and Morganella. All three genera produce phenylalanine deaminase but not arginine decarboxylase, can not metabolize malonate and show no acid production in dulcitol, D- sorbitol and L -arabinose metabolism. Proteus is also characterized by the ability to gelatin liquefaction, hydrogen sulfide production, urea lysis ( urease ) and for the cleavage of corn oil fats. In addition, Proteus shows a clear Swarming.
Medical importance
Proteus bacteria are part of the normal intestinal flora of humans, but some representatives may also cause various diseases, including cystitis, diarrhea, pyelonephritis and prostatitis. Proteus infections quite often occur with this nosocomial.
System
Currently, five named species and a number of unnamed genotypes are known. The listed species are:
- Proteus hauseri
- Proteus mirabilis
- Proteus myxofaciens
- Proteus penneri
- Proteus vulgaris
Proteus vulgaris
Proteus vulgaris is a rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacterium; that inhabits the intestinal tracts of humans and animals. It can be found in soil, water and fecal milieu. It ranks among the Enterobacteriaceae and is an opportunistic pathogen of humans. It is known to cause urinary tract infections and wound infections.
The first use of the term " Proteus " in bacteriological nomenclature comes from Hauser ( 1885), who described three types of these organisms which he isolated from rotten meat. One of Proteus vulgaris was three, so this organism has a long history in microbiology. In the last two decades, the class Proteus, Proteus vulgaris in particular, by making some changes in the taxonomy. 1982 Proteus vulgaris was separated into three groups on the basis of indole production. The first group was indole negative and represented a new type is ( Proteus penneri ), while the second and third group remained together as a new Proteus vulgaris.
Effective antibiotics
- Proteus mirabilis, frequent cause of urinary tract infection is usually sensitive to ampicillin and cefazolin.
- Proteus vulgaris, which occurs occasionally as a secondary nucleation on necrotic tissue that forms β -lactamases and is therefore insensitive to the amino- penicillins and the cephalosporins of the 1st generation. However, cefotaxime, ceftriaxone, and the carbapenems are most effective. Also possible to use β -lactamase inhibitors.
Proteus species are sensitive to quinolones and broad-spectrum cephalosporins 3rd generation. For the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infection with Proteus species is also sometimes recommended cotrimoxazole.
Natural resistance of all Proteus species exist to tetracyclines, tigecycline, colistin, and nitrofurantoin.