Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative bacterium well known for causing wound and urinary tract infections.
Urinary tract infections: Proteus mirabilis is a common cause of complicated UTIs, especially in patients with long-term catheterization or structural abnormalities of the urinary tract. It produces urease, which hydrolyzes urea to ammonia, raising urine pH and promoting the formation of struvite stones. These properties, combined with swarming motility and biofilm formation, contribute to chronic and recurrent infections, making it a key pathogen in molecular UTI diagnostics (Yang et al. 2024, Armbruster & Mobley, 2012)
Wound infections: In wounds, it is often part of polymicrobial infections and produces a characteristic ammonia-like odor due to its urease activity, which may delay healing. It is often involved in polymicrobial infections and may carry resistance genes, reinforcing its relevance in wound diagnostics. (O’Hara et al. 2000, Armbruster & Mobley, 2012)
Yang A, Tian Y, Li X. Unveiling the hidden arsenal: new insights into Proteus mirabilis virulence in UTIs. Front Cell Infect Microbiol. 2024 Nov 13;14:1465460. doi: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1465460. PMID: 39606746; PMCID: PMC11599158.
Armbruster CE, Mobley HL. Merging mythology and morphology: the multifaceted lifestyle of Proteus mirabilis. Nat Rev Microbiol. 2012 Nov;10(11):743-54. doi: 10.1038/nrmicro2890. Epub 2012 Oct 8. PMID: 23042564; PMCID: PMC3621030.
O’Hara CM, Brenner FW, Miller JM. Classification, identification, and clinical significance of Proteus, Providencia, and Morganella. Clin Microbiol Rev. 2000 Oct;13(4):534-46. doi: 10.1128/CMR.13.4.534. PMID: 11023955; PMCID: PMC88947.
