Suhaib Khalid Ibrahim - Department of Medical laboratory analysis, College of Health and medical techniques, Middle Technical University, Baghdad, Iraq

Background and Aim: Proteus vulgaris, a Gram-negative bacterium, is a common cause of human infections, particularly urinary tract infections (UTIs). This study aimed to assess the multidrug resistance patterns of Proteus vulgaris isolated from diverse clinical samples, shedding light on its impact on healthcare-associated infections. Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, ۳۰۰ clinical samples were collected, including ۱۰۰ urine samples, ۵۰ wound samples, ۵۰ vaginal samples, ۵۰ blood cultures, and ۵۰ sputum samples. All samples were selected in the same number (۵۰:۵۰), except the urine samples (۱۰۰) because the urine samples in this study were more available in the collection from the study patients, which gave more advanced UTIs. Phenotypic and molecular techniques were employed to identify and characterize these bacteria, focusing on detecting resistance genes such as UreC and blaCTX-M. Results: Among the ۳۰۰ clinical samples, ۱۵۰ yielded positive cultures for Proteus species. These isolates were obtained from various clinical samples, including ۴۸% from urine, ۳۲% from wounds, ۱۰% from vagina, ۸% from blood, and ۲% from sputum. Of the ۱۰۰ P. vulgaris isolates, ۸۸% harbored resistance genes on chromosomal DNA and plasmids. Specifically, ۷۵% carried the UreC gene, and ۵۰% carried the blaCTX-M gene. The highest prevalence of these resistant genes was observed in urine and wound pus samples. Conclusion: This study revealed a concerning prevalence of highly resistant multidrug-resistant (MDR) P. vulgaris isolates, particularly in female urinary tract infections. The genomic presence of the UreC gene, which encodes the urease enzyme, and the blaCTX-M gene, which confers resistance to cefotaxime, underscores the urgency of effective antimicrobial strategies in combating these infections.

Proteus vulgaris, Multidrug Resistance, Urinary Tract Infections, UreC Gene, blaCTX-M Gene, پروتئوس ولگاریس, مقاومت چند دارویی, عفونت های دستگاه ادراری, ژن UreC, ژن blaCTX-M