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What Is the History of Proteus Mirabilis?

Proteus Mirabilis is a bacteria commonly found in the human intestinal tract. The proteus organism is part of the normal makeup of the human intestine, but can also cause serious problems such as various types of infections in the intestinal tract. Urinary tract infections are the most common manifestation of proteus infections. Proteus Mirabilis causes about 90 percent of Proteus infections and is considered a communicable infection.

  1. Where It Is Found

    • Proteus is frequently found in several types of environmental habitats, such as long-term-care facilities and hospitals. It is common for this type of bacteria to be found on the skin and in the mucus of patients and workers.

    Pathophysiology

    • The proteus infection depends on how the proteus organism interacts with the host's immune system. The proteus organism must first attach to the host tissue to begin the infectious process, which means the organism fimbriae determines how well the organism will be effective in infecting the host. Fimbriae are tiny projections on the surface of the organism that have chemicals on the tips. These chemicals enable organisms to attach to specific host tissue sites, such as the urinary tract.

      Once proteus is attached to uroepithelial cells, it initiates several events in the mucosal endothelial cells. Proteus secretes a variety of fluids into the host, which leads to the urinary tract infection. Enterobacteriaceae species, of which Proteus is a member, are the microorganisms most commonly responsible for gram-negative bacteremia, or the presence of bacteria in the bloodstream. These organisms invading the bloodstream cause several inflammatory responses and have dangerous effects on the host.

    Systematic Inflammatory Response Syndrome

    • Systematic Inflammatory Respomse Syndrome, or SIRS, is the body's response to bactermia. The syndrome can be considered a self-defense mechanism. Inflammation is the body's response to nonspecific occurrences that arise from chemical, traumatic or infectious catalysts. The body essentially releases cytokine to encourage wound repair and homeostasis. If homeostasis is not reached, it can lead to end-organ dysfunction. SIRS carries a mortality rate of 20 to 50 percent.

    Other Proteus Facts

    • About 95 percent of urinary tract infections occur when bacteria goes through the urethra and the bladder. Sexually active women are more likely to have urinary tract infections. Sexually active men are also at a great risk, but to a lesser degree than women. Men who have unprotected anal sex are also at great risk for urinary tract infection. Other risk factors include uncircumcised penises and unprotected vaginal sex.

    Treatment

    • Most UTIs can be treated with antibiotics overall the course of several days. Other more severe cases can be treated with surgery, but only in cases with struvite renal calculus present and needs to be removed.

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