[Mechanisms of intrahospital urinary infections with proteus]

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Hospital Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Proteus species are opportunistic pathogens often associated with healthcare-associated infections.
• Understanding the environmental persistence and transmission routes of Proteus is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the environmental presence of Proteus in patient settings.
• To determine the survival rate of Proteus under environmental conditions.
• To identify the sources and transmission dynamics of Proteus hospital-acquired infections.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of 812 patient washings for Proteus detection.
• Environmental survival experiments assessing drying resistance.
• Dienes's test on 90 Proteus strains to identify contamination sources.
• Longitudinal observation of strain changes over 8 months.

Main Results:

• Proteus was infrequently detected in the environment of patients with spinal trauma and urinary infections.
• Proteus species exhibited low resistance to drying; survival times ranged from 1 day (Pr. vulgaris) to 7 months (Enterococcus).
• Hospital origin of Proteus contamination was confirmed in 50% of cases, with significant strain turnover over 8 months.

Conclusions:

• The limited environmental survival of Proteus, particularly its susceptibility to drying, explains its low detection rates.
• Patient urine is a likely primary source of Proteus contamination.
• Inadequate hand hygiene among medical personnel and insufficient sanitation of the urogenital area facilitate Proteus transmission.