Proteus species bloodstream infections: Comparative epidemiology of three species

Background Although Proteus species are occasional causes of serious infections, their epidemiology has not been well defined. The objective was to describe the overall and species-specific occurrence and determinants of Proteus species bloodstream infection (BSI) in a large Australian population. Methods All Queensland residents with Proteus species BSI identified within the publicly funded healthcare system between 2000 and 2019 were included. Results A total of 2,143 incident episodes of Proteus species BSI were identified among 2,079 Queensland residents. The prevalence of comorbid illness differed with higher Charlson comorbidity scores observed with P. penneri and P. vulgaris, and higher prevalence of liver disease with P. penneri, higher comorbid cancer with P. vulgaris, and lower diabetes and renal disease prevalence with P. mirabilis BSIs. Conclusion This study provides novel information on the epidemiology of Proteus species BSI.