Adhesive properties of Proteus genus related to antimicrobial agents resistance

Microbiologica
|July 1, 1987
PubMed

Insights

Antibiotic-resistant Proteus strains show significantly higher attachment to human urinary tract cells. This finding highlights a link between bacterial adhesion and antibiotic resistance in urinary tract infections.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Urology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Proteus species are common causes of urinary tract infections (UTIs).
  • Antibiotic resistance in uropathogens is a growing global health concern.
  • Bacterial adherence to uroepithelial cells is a key factor in UTI pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the in vitro attachment of Proteus species to human urinary tract epithelial cells.
  • To determine the relationship between bacterial adhesion and antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Proteus isolates.

Main Methods:

  • Collected 49 Proteus isolates from hospitalized patients.
  • Determined in vitro attachment to human urinary tract epithelial cells.
  • Assessed antibacterial spectrum against common antibiotics (Amikacin, Cefamandole, Cefoxitin, Ceftriaxone, Cephalothin, Kanamycin, Nalidixic acid, Oxolinic acid, Pipemidic acid, Piromidic acid, Tobramycin).

Main Results:

  • 18 Proteus strains were multidrug-resistant; 31 were susceptible.
  • Mean bacterial adherence was significantly higher for resistant strains (55.1 bacteria/cell) compared to susceptible strains (20.2 bacteria/cell).
  • A significant relationship (P < 0.01) was found between bacterial adhesion and antibiotic susceptibility patterns.

Conclusions:

  • Increased bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells is associated with antibiotic resistance in Proteus species.
  • This finding may have implications for understanding UTI progression and developing targeted therapies.
  • Further research is warranted to explore the mechanisms underlying enhanced adherence in resistant strains.

Related Concept Videos

Antimicrobial Proteins01:23

Antimicrobial Proteins

Antimicrobial proteins are important components of the immune system. They aid the body in combating pathogens by either killing them directly or hindering their replication processes. Four main types of antimicrobial substances are interferons, the complement system, iron-binding proteins, and antimicrobial proteins.
Interferons
Interferons (IFNs) are proteins produced by lymphocytes, macrophages, and fibroblasts infected with viruses. While IFNs cannot prevent viruses from entering and...
Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens01:31

Defense Against Bacterial Pathogens

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and organs that work together to defend the body against bacterial infections. It consists of various immune cells, each playing a specific role in the defense mechanism.
Phagocytes
Phagocytes are the frontline soldiers of the immune system. They include neutrophils and macrophages. Neutrophils are the most abundant type of white blood cell and are quickly mobilized to the site of infection. Macrophages are larger cells that patrol...
Antimicrobial Effectiveness01:28

Antimicrobial Effectiveness

The effectiveness of antimicrobial agents depends on various factors influencing their ability to eliminate microbial populations. Larger microbial populations require more time for complete eradication, emphasizing the importance of population size analysis when evaluating antimicrobial efficacy.Microbial resistance to antimicrobial agents varies significantly. Highly resilient microorganisms include endospores, gram-negative bacteria, and non-enveloped viruses, while prions are exceptionally...
Development of Antibiotic Resistance01:30

Development of Antibiotic Resistance

Antibiotic resistance is a major public health concern that arises when bacteria evolve mechanisms to withstand the effects of antibiotic treatments. This resistance can be intrinsic, acquired through genetic mutations, or transferred between bacteria via horizontal gene transfer. The development of antibiotic resistance poses significant challenges in treating bacterial infections and necessitates ongoing research to develop new therapeutic strategies.Intrinsic resistance occurs when bacterial...
Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA01:25

Mechanism of Antibiotic Resistance in MRSA

Antibiotic resistance in bacteria arises when microorganisms evolve the ability to withstand drugs designed to kill them or inhibit their growth, rendering once-effective treatments useless. This phenomenon, driven by genetic change and selection under antibiotic exposure, poses a profound threat to modern medicine. Mechanisms include drug-inactivating enzymes (e.g., β-lactamases), efflux pumps that eject antibiotics, mutations altering antibiotic targets, decreased drug uptake, and acquisition...
Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance01:25

Clinical Significance of Antibiotic Resistance

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) presents a critical public health threat, arising from its capacity to resist β-lactam antibiotics due to acquisition of the mecA gene within the staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec). This gene encodes penicillin-binding protein 2a (PBP2a), which impairs binding efficacy of methicillin and other β-lactams. MRSA has evolved into distinct clonal lineages impacting humans and animals alike, reinforcing its significance within the One...