Gram stain: negative Cell shape: bacillus Arrangement: Oxygen requirements: facultative anaerobe Other: Very actively motile; exhibit swarming behavior - form concentric rings as they spread across the surface of agar plates.
Habitat: Human intestinal tract, soil, water, plants
Pathogenicity: These organisms usually do not grow well in the intestinal tract but can act as opportunistic pathogens causing infant diarrhea and cause approximately 29% of all urinary tract infections (due to proximity of urethra to anal canal). They have also been associated with wound infections due to direct contact.
Treatment: ampicillin and aminoglycosides
These bacteria have also been associated with food spoilage in fresh meat, poultry and seafood probably due to improper handling. They can utilize both aerobic and anaerobic cellular respiration pathways. For anaerobic pathways, they can use nitrate and sulfur as the final electron acceptors.
Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis
