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Bacteriophage typing of Proteus mirabilis, Proteus vulgaris, and Proteus morganii

W C Schmidt, C D Jeffries

    Applied Microbiology
    |January 1, 1974
    PubMed

    Insights

    A new bacteriophage typing system effectively differentiates Proteus bacteria from clinical samples. This method provides reliable strain identification for tracking infections.

    Area of Science:

    • Microbiology
    • Bacteriology
    • Epidemiology

    Background:

    • Proteus species are significant human pathogens.
    • Accurate differentiation of Proteus strains is crucial for epidemiological studies.
    • Existing typing methods may have limitations in clinical settings.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To develop and evaluate a bacteriophage typing scheme for differentiating Proteus species isolated from clinical specimens.
    • To assess the efficacy and reproducibility of the developed typing system.

    Main Methods:

    • Development of a bacteriophage typing scheme using 15 phages for Proteus mirabilis, P. vulgaris, and P. morganii.
    • Typing of 208 clinical isolates of Proteus species.
    • Retyping of 50 isolates to assess reproducibility.
    • Evaluation of phage stability and titer.

    Main Results:

    • Twenty-one distinct lysis patterns were observed.
    • The system successfully typed 85.7% of P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris isolates and 68.4% of P. morganii isolates.
    • Overall, 84.1% of isolates were typable.
    • Retyping confirmed the stability of lytic patterns, and phages maintained titers during storage.

    Conclusions:

    • A robust bacteriophage typing system for Proteus has been established.
    • The system demonstrates reproducibility and stability, offering potential for epidemiological surveillance of Proteus infections.
    • This method can aid in understanding the transmission and spread of Proteus strains in healthcare settings.

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