Genitourinary tract infection due to Proteus

A genitourinary tract infection due to *Proteus* is an infectious disease of the urinary and reproductive systems caused by Gram-negative bacilli of the genus *Proteus*, most commonly *Proteus mirabilis*.

It frequently manifests as cystitis, pyelonephritis, prostatitis, or catheter-associated urinary tract infections, occurring commonly in elderly populations, individuals with anatomical or neurological urinary abnormalities, and patients undergoing long-term urinary catheterization.

Pathophysiologically, the organism utilizes potent virulence factors, prominently including robust swarming motility, biofilm formation, and high urease production.

Urease hydrolyzes urea into ammonia and carbon dioxide, which alkalinizes the urine and promotes the precipitation of magnesium ammonium phosphate and calcium carbonate-apatite, uniquely predisposing affected individuals to the formation of struvite urinary calculi and encrustation of indwelling catheters.