What antibiotics are effective against Proteus vulgaris?

From the Guidelines

Proteus vulgaris infections can be effectively treated with carbapenems, such as meropenem or imipenem, as these antibiotics have been shown to be highly effective against this organism 1. The most reliable options for treating Proteus vulgaris infections include:

• Carbapenems (meropenem, imipenem)
• Third and fourth-generation cephalosporins (ceftriaxone, cefepime)
• Fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin)
• Aminoglycosides (gentamicin, amikacin)
• Piperacillin-tazobactam Proteus vulgaris typically produces beta-lactamases, making it resistant to many penicillins and early-generation cephalosporins 1. The organism is intrinsically resistant to tetracyclines, nitrofurantoin, and colistin, so these should be avoided 1. When treating Proteus infections, it's essential to consider the site of infection and obtain susceptibility testing when possible, as resistance patterns can vary 1. For urinary tract infections, which are common with Proteus, fluoroquinolones or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole may be appropriate if the isolate is susceptible 1. For more severe infections, combination therapy might be necessary initially until susceptibility results are available 1. Proteus can rapidly develop resistance, so appropriate antibiotic stewardship is essential for successful treatment 1.

From the FDA Drug Label

Aerobic gram-negative microorganisms Citrobacter diversus Morganella morganii Citrobacter freundii Proteus mirabilis Enterobacter cloacae Proteus vulgaris Escherichia coli Providencia rettgeri Haemophilus influenzae Providencia stuartii Haemophilus parainfluenzae Pseudomonas aeruginosa Klebsiella pneumoniae Serratia marcescens Moraxella catarrhalis

The antibiotics that cover Proteus vulgaris are:

• Gentamicin (IV) 2
• Ciprofloxacin (IV) 3

From the Research

Antibiotic Coverage for Proteus Vulgaris

There are no research papers to assist in answering this question as the provided studies focus on Proteus mirabilis, not Proteus vulgaris.

Related Information on Proteus Mirabilis

• The following antibiotics have been studied for their effectiveness against Proteus mirabilis:
  • Ciprofloxacin 4, 5, 6
  • Ceftazidime 4, 5, 6
  • Piperacillin/tazobactam 4, 7
  • Imipenem 6
  • Cefoperazone/sodium sulbactam 6
  • Levofloxacin 6
  • Sulfamethoxazole 6
  • Cefoxitin 6
• The susceptibility of Proteus mirabilis to these antibiotics can vary depending on the strain and the location 6
• Some studies have found that Proteus mirabilis is naturally resistant to certain antibiotics, such as penicillin G and oxacillin 8
• The production of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) can also affect the susceptibility of Proteus mirabilis to certain antibiotics 7