PROTEUS MIRABILIS INFECTIONS

Course overview

PROTEUS MIRABILIS IS A GRAM-NEGATIVE FACULTATIVE ANAEROBE WITH SWARMING MOTILITY AND AN ABILITY TO SELF-ELONGATE AND SECRETE A POLYSACCHARIDE WHICH ALLOWS IT TO ATTACH TO AND MOVE ALONG SURFACES LIKE CATHETERS, INTRAVENOUS LINES, AND OTHER MEDICAL EQUIPMENT. THE MOST DEFINITIVE FORM OF EVALUATION FOR AN ACUTE P. MIRABILIS INFECTION IS A CULTURE. HOWEVER, POSITIVE CULTURE RESULTS MUST BE CONSIDERED IN CONJUNCTION WITH A PATIENT'S PRESENTATION FOR AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS TO BE MADE. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE PRESENTATION AND EVALUATION OF PROTEUS INFECTIONS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF INFECTED PATIENTS.