Types of Providencia Bacteria

Providencia is a genus of gram-negative bacteria that cause human infections of the urinary and gastrointestinal tracts, according to eMedicine.

The first species of Providencia was identified in 1904 by Rettger, during an epidemic of fowl cholera. Sometimes, Providencia bacteria can be mistaken by the closely related genus Proteus and Morganella. Only in 1951, Kauffmann suggested the name Providencia to the genus, as a reference to studies performed at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island, according to eMedicine.

As reported by Clinical Microbiology Reviews, there are five species in the genus Providencia: P. alcalifaciens, P. heimbachae, P. rettgeri, P. rustigianii and P. stuartii.

Providencia alcalifaciens

• P. alcalifaciens is often related to gastroenteritis, which has been reported in both children and adults, according to eMedicine. During a 2005 study, after an outbreak of gastroenteritis by P. alcalifaciens in two kindergartens and one high school, it was concluded that the prevalence of infection was higher in children (53 percent) than adults (36 percent), according to eMedicine.

Providencia heimbachae

• Providencia heimbachae was first described in 1986 by Muller et al., after been found in penguin feces and aborted bovine fetus, according to the Journal of Clinical Microbiology. In 1999, P. heimbachae was for the first time isolated in humans, affected by gastroenteritis.

Providencia rettgeri

• This species is related to gastroenteritis, in most of the reported cases. According to a study performed in Japan and reported by the Journal of Medical Microbiology, patients infected with P. rettgeri suffered abdominal pain and vomiting, which is characteristic of a P. rettgeri infection.

  Another case study reported by eMedicine says that P. rettgeri was the cause of ocular infections, like conjunctivitis.

Providencia rustigianii

• Providencia rustigianii was known as a subtype of Providencia alcalifaciens before 1983, according to PubMed. Likely P. alcalifaciens, this species is equally related to gastroenteritis and other infections of the digestive system.

Providencia stuartii

• P. stuartii is commonly related to urinary infections in patients with indwelling urinary catheters, according to eMedicine. In this case, P. stuartii is very invasive, showing more persistence in females than male patients, according to a 1994 study reported by eMedicine. One case study reported by the same source also described the bacteria as the cause of endocarditis (heart infection).