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what is proteus infection

by Elijah Abernathy DVM Published 2 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative bacterium which is well-known for its ability to robustly swarm across surfaces in a striking bulls'-eye pattern. Clinically, this organism is most frequently a pathogen of the urinary tract, particularly in patients undergoing long-term catheterization.Apr 1, 2016

What are the symptoms of Proteus infection?

  • asymmetric overgrowths, such as one side of the body having longer limbs than the other.
  • raised, rough skin lesions that may have a bumpy, grooved appearance.
  • a curved spine, also called scoliosis.
  • fatty overgrowths, often on the stomach, arms, and legs.

Is there a cure for Proteus syndrome?

There’s no cure for Proteus syndrome. Treatment generally focuses on minimizing and managing symptoms. The condition affects many parts of the body, so your child may need treatment from several doctors, including the following: Surgery to remove skin overgrowths and excess tissue may be recommended.

What are the effects of Proteus syndrome?

What are the signs and symptoms of Proteus syndrome?

  • Raised rough skin ( verrucous epidermal naevi) or flat, soft variety of epidermal naevi
  • Deep lines and overgrowth of soft tissue on the soles of the feet (cerebriform connective tissue naevi)
  • Local overgrowth of fat ( lipomas) or invasive lipomas that produce large intra-abdominal or intrathoracic lesions that can be medically dangerous

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What does Proteus infections mean?

Proteus mirabilis is a very common virus accountable for complicated urinary system infections (UTIs) that typically causes bacteremia. Many instances of P. mirabilis bacteremia result from a Bladder infection however, the danger factors for bacteremia and mortality rates from P.

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How do you get Proteus infection?

How is Proteus mirabilis transmitted? The bacterium spreads mainly through contact with infected persons or contaminated objects and surfaces. The pathogens can also be ingested via the intestinal tract, for example, when it is present in contaminated food.

Is Proteus infection serious?

Proteus is found abundantly in soil and water, and although it is part of the normal human intestinal flora (along with Klebsiella species, and Escherichia coli), it has been known to cause serious infections in humans.

What are the symptoms of Proteus infection?

Proteus can cause gastroenteritis, urinary tract infections, and wound infections. The ingestion of food contaminated by Proteus may contribute to the sporadic and epidemic cases of gastroenteritis, which may cause symptoms such as vomiting, fever, abdominal pain, severe nausea, diarrhea, and dehydration.

How is Proteus infection treated?

For hospitalized patients, therapy consists of parenteral (or oral once the oral route is available) ceftriaxone, quinolone, gentamicin (plus ampicillin), or aztreonam until defervescence. Then, an oral quinolone, cephalosporin, or TMP/SMZ for 14 days may be added to complete treatment.

Is Proteus infection curable?

Since Proteus mirabilis is a form of bacteria, infections caused by Proteus mirabilis are usually treated using antibiotics. Antibiotics are used to kill bacteria in the body. Proteus mirabilis, like many other bacteria, are resistant and cannot be killed by some antibiotics.

What antibiotic kills Proteus?

The tested antibiotics included: ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamicin. Of them, ciprofloxacin showed the highest activity. Up to 93% reduction in biofilm formation was achieved using a concentration of ciprofloxacin corresponding to 1/2MIC.

What does Proteus in urine mean?

Proteus mirabilis is a common pathogen responsible for complicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) that sometimes causes bacteremia. Most cases of P. mirabilis bacteremia originate from a UTI; however, the risk factors for bacteremia and mortality rates from P.

How do you prevent Proteus?

Proteus is more common in people who have or have had a urinary catheter. Minimizing the incidence and duration of urinary catheterization is an important part of preventing infection. Community staff who are alert to the possibility of this infection can make a huge difference to their patient's quality of life.

What is the best antibiotic to treat Proteus mirabilis UTI?

mirabilis. The tested antibiotics included: ciprofloxacin, ceftriaxone, nitrofurantoin, and gentamicin. Of them, ciprofloxacin showed the highest activity. Up to 93% reduction in biofilm formation was achieved using a concentration of ciprofloxacin corresponding to 1/2MIC.

How did I get Proteus mirabilis in my urine?

It is thought that the majority of P. mirabilis urinary tract infections (UTI) result from ascension of bacteria from the gastrointestinal tract while others are due to person-to-person transmission, particularly in healthcare settings (1). This is supported by evidence that some patients with P.

How did I get Proteus mirabilis?

mirabilis occur usually in patients under long-term catheterization. The bacteria have been found to move and create encrustations on the urinary catheters. Proteus mirabilis can enter the bloodstream through wounds. This happens with contact between the wound and an infected surface.

How do I know if I have Proteus mirabilis?

Diagnosis. An alkaline urine sample is a possible sign of P. mirabilis. It can be diagnosed in the lab due to characteristic swarming motility, and inability to metabolize lactose (on a MacConkey agar plate, for example).

Can Proteus mirabilis cause death?

The in-hospital mortality rate of P. mirabilis UTI was 8.9%. Among the 17 patients who died (total), 11 were in the bacteremic group and 6 were in the nonbacteremic group. Univariate analysis showed that a higher mortality rate was significantly associated with P.

Is Proteus mirabilis UTI serious?

These infections can also cause bacteremia and progress to potentially life-threatening urosepsis. Additionally, P. mirabilis infections can cause the formation of urinary stones (urolithiasis).

What kills Proteus mirabilis naturally?

When the Proteus bacteria were exposed to high concentrations of cranberry powder, the researchers saw two interesting effects. First, just as in E. coli, the bacteria's ability to swim or swarm across an agar plate embedded with cranberry powder was almost completely eliminated.

Does Proteus mirabilis require contact isolation?

We believe that contact isolation precaution measures should be used as a mode of control of spread of ESBL producing P. mirabilis. Such an approach requires the identification of asymptomatic carriers of the organism and then accommodation of such individuals in single rooms or cohorting with other colonized patients.

What is the most common site of Proteus infection?

The common site of Proteus infection is the urinary tract and P. mirabilis frequently is implicated with urinary tract infections. Proteus urinary tract infections are common in young boys and the elderly. In the latter, they often are associated in domiciliary patients with diabetes or structural abnormalities of the urinary tract, and in hospital patients, they are associated with various forms of urological instrumentation or manipulation. Proteus urinary tract infections tend to be more serious than those caused by E. coli and other coliforms because, although these usually are confined to the bladder, Proteus spp. have a predilection for the upper urinary tract where they may cause pyelonephritis.

What is the most common infection of Proteus species in children?

Infections by Proteus species in children are infrequent and are most often associated with neonatal sepsis and meningitis and with childhood urinary tract infection. Pneumonia has also been described. 492

How does Proteus work?

The concentration of urea in urine is sufficiently high for the ureases of all Proteus spp. to be able to work at the maximum rate, with that of P. mirabilis, in particular, giving the greatest rate of urea hydrolysis. Urease hydrolyzes urea in urine to ammonia and carbon dioxide. This reaction may be important in supplying the bacteria with a source of usable nitrogen for growth in urine. The formation of ammonia also leads to the alkalinization of urine, and at pH values above 8, calcium and magnesium ions are precipitated in the form of struvite and apatite crystals. These are bound by the polysaccharide slime formed by the cell to form bladder and kidney stones. The urease-induced ammonia also protects the bacterial cell from complement by inactivating it. Animal experiments have confirmed that urease is a critical virulence determinant for colonization of the urinary tract, stone formation, and development of pyelonephritis. Urease together with hemolysin (see section Urinary Tract Infections) causes the death of human renal proximal tubular epithelial cells.

What are the virulence factors of Proteus mirabilis?

A number of specific proteins encoded by chromosomal genes have been implicated as virulence factors that allow P. mirabilis to colonize its host, evade host defenses , and cause damage to the host ( Figure 3 ). The production of one of these proteins, urease, is a hallmark of Proteus infection. This enzyme, which catalyzes the hydrolysis of urea to carbon dioxide and ammonia, elevates urine pH to a level where normally soluble ions precipitate to form struvite or apatite stones. These stones, which form around the bacterium itself, can grow to a size that obstructs normal urine flow or prevents normal kidney function. The gene cluster encoding urease is comprised of eight genes, ureRDABCEFG. UreR encodes a transcriptional activator that induces transcription of urease genes in the presence of urea; ureABC encode the structural subunits of the enzyme itself; ureDEFG encode accessory proteins that are responsible for inserting nickel ions into the active site of the urease metalloenzyme. Mutations in the urease genes of P. mirabilis attenuate the organism; the ability of the urease-deficient P. mirabilis to colonize the urinary tract in an experimental mouse model of ascending UTI is much diminished. In addition to reduced histological damage, the formation of kidney and bladder stones is never observed for this mutant.

What are the roles of Proteus cells in the urinary tract?

Proteus cells also form a number of different types of fimbriae (Table 1), which play a significant but more subtle role in virulence for the urinary tract. Mannose resistant, Proteus -like fimbriae are expressed in vivo, and although not essential for infection, they appear to play a significant role in the colonization of both bladder and kidney and their presence correlates with the development of acute pyelonephritis. Proteus mirabilis fimbriae (PMF) are probably important for colonization of the bladder although mutants lacking them still can invade the kidney. Mannose-resistant Klebsiella-like (MR/K) fimbriae and uroepithelial cell adhesin (UCA) (alternatively known as NAF, nonagglutinating fimbriae) both bind to uroepithelial cells and the former also binds to Bowman's capsule of the glomeruli and tubular basement membranes of the kidney.

What bacteria are responsible for struvite formation?

An experiment was carried out by Brown TR to prove that urea-splitting bacteria are responsible for struvite formation [45]. He collected renal pelvic urine samples from the kidneys of six patients with urinary infection and unilateral pelvic stones. The urinary pH was estimated and bacterial cultures were performed for each specimen. Also, the urea-splitting character of every bacterial isolate was examined. The kidney containing stones was surgically removed and the isolated stones were chemically analyzed. It was observed that the urine from the uninvolved kidney was acidic and sterile whereas the kidney containing stones was infected with E. coli communis (one case), Staphylococcus aureus (two cases) and Proteus (three cases). The urine infected with Proteus and Staphylococcal infections was alkaline in nature and contained increased amount of protein and cellular debris. Both strains of Staphylococcu s and all strains of Proteus split urea. The stones collected from these five specimens were composed of carbonate-apatite and struvite. In these cases, bacteria isolated from the urine and the center of the stones were identical.

What are the most common enterobacteriaceae associated with UTIs?

Other common Enterobacteriaceae associated with UTIs are Klebsiella pneumoniae and Proteus mirabilis. 60 These species infect specific groups of patients, such as those with diabetes mellitus or dysfunctional bladders and urinary catheters. A common pathogen in both community and hospitalized UTIs, K. pneumoniae possesses a number of virulence determinants, including adhesins, urease activity, capsule and iron-scavenging systems.61 Proteus mirabilis is an important agent of UTI, particularly in hospitalized patients and notably those who are catheterized. A hallmark of infection with this species is stone formation, resulting from active urease which hydrolyzes urea to ammonia, raising urinary pH and subsequently leading to precipitation of magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium phosphate. Another specific characteristic of Proteus infections is the ability to colonize the surfaces of catheters forming biofilms. 62

What is the Proteus Mirabilis infection?

Proteus Mirabilis Infections. Proteus mirabilis is responsible for a number of infections. These infections occur mostly to patients in hospitals. The infections are caused by contaminated or infected medical facilities.

What is Proteus mirabilis?

5.1 Urinalysis. 6 Treatment. Proteus mirabilis is a kind of bacteria responsible for causing infections in your body. This bacterium mostly causes urinary tract infections and formation of stones 1. Proteus mirabilis belongs to the family of Enterobacteriaceae. It ferments maltose but not lactose.

What causes pneumonia in the lungs?

This illness can be caused by several microorganisms including viruses, funguses and bacteria. Streptococcus pneumonia and Chlamydophila pneumonia are the most common causes of pneumonia. But proteus mirabilis can also cause pneumonia if the bacteria invade your lungs. 6.

What is the infection that affects the urethra?

Urethritis. This is a type of infection that affects your urethra. Urethritis occurs when proteus mirabilis or any other bacteria move from the anus to urethra. In addition to proteus mirabilis, other infections such as gonorrhea and chlamydia can cause Urethritis .

What causes urinary tract infections?

Urinary tract infections happens when bacteria enters the urinary system through the urethra. Despite your urinary system ability to eliminate these microorganisms, sometimes it fails to do so. This allows the bacteria to multiply and attack your urinary system and cause infections. Proteus mirabilis is also the cause of urinary infections.

What is the cause of a bacterial infection in the bladder?

This infection affects your bladder. Cystitis is caused by a bacterium called Escherichia coli found in your digestive system. Other bacteria such as proteus mirabilis cause this type of infection.

What causes sepsis in the body?

Other causes of sepsis are kidney infections, pneumonia and abdominal infection. 4.

How does a proteus infection occur?

Infection occurs either by migration of bacteria up the catheter along the mucosal sheath or by migration up the catheter lumen from infected urine. UTIs are the most common clinical manifestation of Proteus infections. Proteus infection accounts for 1%-2% of UTIs in healthy women and 5% of hospital-acquired UTIs.

How common is Proteus infection?

Proteus infection accounts for 1%-2% of UTIs in healthy women and 5% of hospital-acquired UTIs. Complicated UTIs (ie, those associated with catheterization) have a prevalence of 20%-45%. UTIs are more common in males then females in the neonatal population.

How does Proteus produce urease?

The ability of Proteus organisms to produce urease and to alkalinize the urine by hydrolyzing urea to ammonia makes it effective in producing an environment in which it can survive. This leads to precipitation of organic and inorganic compounds, which leads to struvite stone formation.

What family is Proteus?

Proteus species are part of the Enterobacteriaceae family of gram-negative bacilli. The first isolates were reported and characterized by Hauser in the late 19th century.

What bacteria are infected with UTI?

In contrast, individuals with multiple prior episodes of UTI, multiple antibiotic treatments, urinary tract obstruction, or infection developing after instrumentation frequently become infected with Proteus bacteria or other bacteria such as Enterobacter, Klebsiella, Serratia, and Acinetobacter.

What is the outer membrane of Proteus?

Pathophysiology. Proteus species possess an extracytoplasmic outer membrane, a feature shared with other gram-negative bacteria. In addition, the outer membrane contains a lipid bilayer, lipoproteins, polysaccharides, and lipopolysaccharides. Infection depends on the interaction between the infecting organism and the host defense mechanisms.

What organisms cause urinary tract infections?

Patients with recurrent infections, those with structural abnormalities of the urinary tract, those who have had urethral instrumentation, and those whose infections were acquired in the hospital have an increased frequency of infection caused by Proteus and other organisms (eg, Klebsiella, Enterobacter, Pseudomonas, enterococci, staphylococci ).

What is the proteus species?

Understanding the Proteus species and how it infects your urinary tract or vagina. Proteus is gram-negative bacilli found most often in specific environments, such as hospitals and long-term care facilities. In hospitals, gram-negative bacilli often infect the skin and mouth of staff and patients alike. Proteus mirabilis causes about 90 per cent of ...

Where is Proteus found?

Proteus organisms are believed to be responsible for serious infections in humans, being most commonly found in the digestive tract, but also in the urinary tract.

Why does urine have a struvite stone?

Struvite stone formation can only occur when ammonia production is increased and pH of the urine is elevated to decrease solubility of phosphate – this can only occur when urine is infected with a urease-producing bacteria like Proteus.

What percentage of UTIs are caused by Proteus?

Urinary tract infections are the most common clinical manifestation, with Proteus being responsible for 1-2 per cent of UTIs in healthy women and about five per cent of hospital-acquired UTI.

What is Proteus' ability to produce urease and alkalise urine?

Proteus’ ability to produce urease and alkalise urine (by hydrolysing urea to ammonia) means it creates its own perfect environment to survive in. The result is struvite stone formation, made of magnesium ammonium phosphate (struvite) and calcium carbonate-apatite.

Why is the proteus infection rate so high?

The Proteus infection occurs due to the migration of bacteria up the catheter or by migration up the catheter from infected urine.

What is the highest risk for Proteus infection?

High risk of Proteus infection. People suffering recurrent infections are most at risk, along with those with structural abnormalities of the urinary tract, those who have had instruments inserted into the urethra , and those with a hospital-acquired infection. People with indwelling catheters are at an increased risk of Proteus infection ...

How to treat Proteus syndrome?

Without treatment, the condition will worsen over time. Treatment may include surgery and physical therapy. Your child will also be monitored for blood clots.

What are the symptoms of Proteus syndrome?

Symptoms tend to vary greatly from one person to another and can include: asymmetric overgrowths, such as one side of the body having longer limbs than the other. raised, rough skin lesions that may have a bumpy, grooved appearance. a curved spine, also called scoliosis.

Why is Proteus syndrome more prone to deep vein thrombosis?

People with Proteus syndrome are more prone to deep vein thrombosis because it can affect blood vessels. Deep vein thrombosis is a blood clot that occurs in the body’s deep veins, usually in the leg. The clot can break free and travel throughout the body. If a clot becomes wedged in an artery of the lungs, called a pulmonary embolism, ...

What is the cause of death for a child with Proteus syndrome?

If a clot becomes wedged in an artery of the lungs, called a pulmonary e mbolism, it can block blood flow and lead to death. Pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of death in people with Proteus syndrome. Your child will regularly be monitored for blood clots. Common symptoms of a pulmonary embolism are: shortness of breath.

How many people have Proteus syndrome?

Left untreated, the overgrowths can lead to serious health and mobility issues. It’s estimated that fewer than 500 people worldwide have Proteus syndrome.

Can Proteus syndrome age?

The condition can affect quality of life, but people with Proteus syndrome can age normally with medical intervention and monitoring.

Can Proteus syndrome be life threatening?

Proteus syndrome can cause numerous complications. Some can be life-threatening.

What is a proteus?

The members of the genus Proteus are Gram negative, motile facultative anaerobic rods. On culture plates, Proteus species are distinguished by their ability to swarm. Proteus spp. have 2-3mm colorless, flat, colonies on MacConkey agar, whereas they swarm in waves to cover blood agar plates and LB agar plates.

Where is Proteus found?

Members of the genus Proteus are widespread in the environment and are found in the human gastrointestinal tract ( 9 ). The most common infections caused by Proteus spp. are urinary tract infections (UTIs). Proteus spp. can be found to colonize the vaginal introitus prior to onset of bacteruria.

What is the causal agent of red body disease of the cultured white shrimp Penaeus vannamei?

2 5. Cao H, He S, Lu L, Yang X, Chen B. Identification of a Proteus penneri isolate as the causal agent of red body disease of the cultured white shrimp Penaeus vannamei and its control with Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 2014;105:423-430. [PubMed]

What is the name of the bacteria that colonizes the vagina?

Proteus spp. can be found to colonize the vaginal introitus prior to onset of bacteruria. Therefore, like Escherichia coli, Proteus spp. causes urinary tract infections by ascending from the rectum to the periurethra and bladder. P. mirabilis is by far the most common species identified in clinical specimens.

What is P. mirabilis?

P. mirabilis is by far the most common species identified in clinical specimens. P. mirabilis is a common cause of both community-acquired and catheter-associated UTI, cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, wound infections, and burn infections, and occasionally causes respiratory tract infections, chronic suppurative otitis media, eye infections (endophthalmitis), meningitis, and meningoencephalitis ( 3, 4, 51, 81, 137 ). It is a common cause of bacteremia following catheter-associated UTI ( 90 ), and in rare cases has been reported to cause cellulitis, endocarditits, mastoiditis, empyema, and osteomyelitis ( 24, 61, 86, 137 ). It has also been suggested that P. mirabilis could have a role in the etiology of rheumatoid arthritis ( 145 ).

What is the genus of Proteus?

Proteus is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. The genus of Proteus consists of motile, aerobic and facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative rods. Proteus is a member of the tribe Proteeae, which also includes Morganella and Providencia. The genus Proteus currently consists of five named species: P. mirabilis, P. vulgaris, P. penneri, P. myxofaciens and P. hauseri and three unnamed genomospecies: Proteus genomospecies 4, 5, 6 ( 104 ). However, a recent study indicated that P. myxofaciens may represent a separate genus with low similarity to tribe Proteeae, and it has been suggested that this organism be renamed Cosenzaea myxofaciens ( 47 ).

What is P. vulgaris biogroup 2?

vulgaris, previously considered biogroup 2, has been reported to cause UTIs, wound infections, burn infections, bloodstream infections, and respiratory tract infections ( 71, 137 ). There has also been one case study of P. vulgaris causing bacteremia and brain abscesses, with the suspected point of entry being the digestive tract ( 16 ).>

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