Proteus strains are typically lactose negative, produce H2S, and exhibit swarming motility on agar plates. P. mirabilis and P. penneri are indole negative, whereas P. vulgaris is indole positive.
Treatment: Proteus Infections - P. mirabilis is susceptible to most agents except tetracycline, nitrofurantoin, polymyxins, and tigecycline. Resistance to ampicillin, first-generation cephalosporins, and fluoroquinolones is increasing.
- P. vulgaris and P. penneri are more resistant; induction of variants with stable derepression of chromosomal AmpC β-lactamase may occur with P. vulgaris isolates. Carbapenems, fourth-generation cephalosporins, amikacin, TMP-SMX, and fosfomycin exhibit excellent activity: 90-100% of Proteus isolates are susceptible.
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