Sex-Based Differences in the Prevalence and Antimicrobial Resistance of Uropathogenic Proteus spp. and Evaluation of VITEK 2 Identification in Al-Najaf Al-Ashraf Hospitals

Mohammed Najah Abbas; Khalid R. Kareem

doi:10.51699/cajmns.v7i4.3358

Authors

Mohammed Najah Abbas Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, University of Kufa, Department of Microbiology
Khalid R. Kareem Jaber Ibn Hayyan University of Medical and Pharmaceutical sciences, Faculty of Medicine – Pathology and Forensic medicine

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51699/cajmns.v7i4.3358

Keywords:

Proteus Infections, Antibiotic Resistance, Sex-Based Disparities, Urinary Tract Infections, VITICK Test, Bacterial Pathogenicity, Epidemiology

Abstract

Proteus species, especially Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris, are well-known culprits behind urinary tract infections and hospital-acquired infections. The rise of multidrug-resistant (MDR) strains in these species poses a significant challenge for public health and clinical treatment. This study set out to explore how infection rates and antimicrobial resistance differ between genders, using both traditional culture methods and the automated VITICK identification system. We analyzed clinical samples from male and female patients to isolate and identify Proteus species, followed by testing their susceptibility to various antibiotics. We used analysis of variance (ANOVA) to determine if there were significant differences in infection and resistance patterns between the genders. The findings revealed that female patients had a higher rate of Proteus infections, likely due to anatomical and physiological factors. P. mirabilis was the most common isolate, making up 70% of cases, while P. vulgaris accounted for the remaining 30%. The VITICK system showed improved diagnostic sensitivity and specificity compared to traditional methods. Alarmingly, all isolates were completely resistant to ampicillin, erythromycin, amikacin, and trimethoprim, which raises serious clinical concerns; however, they were highly susceptible to levofloxacin and cefixime. These results highlight the importance of gender-specific infection control strategies and showcase the advantages of the VITICK system in everyday diagnostics. Additionally, the study stresses the urgent need for ongoing research into antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and biofilm-related pathogenicity to guide the development of new treatment options.

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