Evaluation of bacteriophage effect against multidrug-resistant Proteus mirabilis isolated from different clinical samples

Proteus mirabilis is a Gram-negative bacterium that can cause a variety of infections including urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections and wound infections. It is becoming increasingly resistant to antimicrobial agents, and new therapeutic options are urgently needed. Fifty samples were collected from different samples from hospitals in Baghdad city, thirty were found to be positive for Proteus mirabilis. The results showed that most of the Proteus mirabilis isolates were resistant to Cefotaxime (76.6%), Tobramycin and Amikacin (66.7%), Gentamicin (60%), Ciprofloxacin and Ceftazidime (40%). However, Norfloxacin, Amoxicillin / Clavulanic acid and Aztreonam had lower resistance rates of 33.3%, 30%, and 23.3% respectively. The isolates were also tested for multi-drug resistance. Eight different resistance patterns were identified with 24 (80%) of the isolates being resistant to more than three antibiotics. Eleven (36.7%) of the isolates produced β-lactamase enzymes while 8 (26.7%) were able to produce extended-spectrum β-lactamases. Four bacteriophages were isolated from bird droppings, sewage, Tigris river water and soil samples. These phages were able to infect four isolates of the multidrug-resistant bacteria P. mirabilis. A study of the effects of pH and temperature on bacteriophages found that they were able to eliminate bacteria with high efficiency in a pH range of 7 to 9 and at temperatures of 25 to 550C.