title: Characterization of an unusual strain of proteus rettgeri associated with an outbreak of nosocomial urinary-tract infection.
abstract: An outbreak of nosocomial urinary-tract infection was caused by a strain of Proteus rettgeri that fermented lactose overnight and was resistant to all antimicrobial drugs tested. The nonmotile isolates shared an O (somatic) antigen that differed from those of wild-type P. rettgeri. The organisms proved markedly serum-sensitive. In rats, the isolates elicited an acute interstitial nephritis with associated transient bacteriuria. Attempts to transfer the lac(+) trait and drug-resistance markers to recipient strains of Escherichia coli K-12 failed; exposure of the isolates to acridine orange yielded small numbers of non-lactose-fermenting variants which, however, were still as drug-resistant as before. Epidemiological studies failed to uncover the source of this unique strain and appeared to indicate exogenous spread of infection.
mesh_terms: D000166:Acridines; D000372:Agglutination Tests; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000956:Antigens, Viral / Q000032:analysis; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001437:Bacteriuria / Q000382:microbiology; D001770:Blood Bactericidal Activity; D003227:Conjugation, Genetic; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000382:microbiology*; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D005260:Female; D005285:Fermentation; D014644:Genetic Variation; D005827:Genetics, Microbial; D006386:Hemagglutination Tests; D006801:Humans; D007106:Immune Sera; D007785:Lactose / Q000378:metabolism; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009153:Mutagens; D011511:Proteus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism / Q000472:pathogenicity; D011512:Proteus Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*; D011817:Rabbits; D051381:Rats; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D000166:Acridines; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D000956:Antigens, Viral; D007106:Immune Sera; D009153:Mutagens; D007785:Lactose