Receive Updates
Triemthoprim-Sulfa-Resistant Proteus mirabilis
As with other Enterobacteariceae, trimethoprim-sulfa resistance nearly doubled in the past decade
BACKGROUND
Proteus mirabilis is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family of bacteria, along with E. coli and K. pneumoniae, which together account for the vast majority of community-acquired urinary tract infections (UTIs). P. mirabilis comensally inhabits the gastrointestinal tract without causing disease. However, when it colonizes sterile parts of the body, it can be difficult to eliminate because of its tendency to produce a biofilm of mineral deposits (e.g., kidney stones).
Trimethoprim-sulfa (also known as co-trimoxazole or TMP-SMZ) is recommended as a first-line therapy for uncomplicated UTIs. However, when regional resistance exceeds 20%, drugs such as fluoroquinolones become the drug of choice, per official guidelines. These broad-spectrum drugs are not only more expensive but also facilitate the slection of antibiotic-resistant strains across species.
RESISTANCE BY U.S. CENSUS DIVISION, 1999-2010
