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Information

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.

Outline

Section 7. Infectious Diseases