Bacteria of the tribe Proteeae - Occurrence in raw materials and food, andresistance to antibiotics

A total 54 strains of Proteeae was isolated and identified from raw materia ls and foods. The most frequently present species: Proteus mirabilis (37%), Morganella morganii (25.9%), Proteus vulgaris (18.5%). Members of the genu s Providencia were found less frequent (from waste water and sludge only): P, rustigianii (9.3%), P. rettgeri (5.6%) and P. alcalifaciens (3.7%). All strains were included in the genus using commercial diagnostic kit ENTEROte st 16 and identified by numerical identification program TNW. Correct speci es identification - excellent (EI) or very good (VGI) - was obtained in eig hty-five per cent. Two Morganella morganii subsp. morganii biogroup C strai ns were designated as intermediate strains (IS) on the basis of both lysine and ornithine decarboxylases negative results. The antibiotic susceptibili ty of 50 isolates of Proteeae species was examined according to standard me thod. Thirty of tested strains (60%) were found resistant to one and more a ntibiotics. Proteus vulgaris (60% of strains), Morganella morganii (53.8% o f strains), Proteus mirabilis (47.4% of strains) were the most resistant me mbers of the tribe Proteeae.