Proteeae species bacteriuria accompanying Proteeae species groin skin carriage in geriatric outpatients

Abstract

There have been numerous reports of Proteeae species urinary tract infections among elderly individuals. To explore a possible urinary carrier source of Proteeae species in this population, the frequency of aerobic gram-negative bacillus (AGNB) bacteriuria at the greater than or equal to 10(2)/ml level was determined in 67 ambulatory elderly outpatients classified as to Proteeae group (Morganella, Proteus, Providencia) groin carriage by a set of two skin cultures obtained at least 1 week apart. None had urethral catheters, symptomatic infections, skin ulcers, or recent antibiotic therapy. We found AGNB bacteriuria in 12 of 15 carriers (80%) and in 21 of 52 noncarriers (40%) (P = 0.009). Proteeae species bacteriuria occurred in eight carriers (53.3%) and six noncarriers (11.5%) (P = 0.001). At the 10(2) to 10(4)/ml level, Proteeae species were isolated in urine specimens from seven carriers (46.7%) and four noncarriers (7.7%) (P = 0.001). There was concordance of species of skin and urine Proteeae isolates in six carriers. By contrast, non-Proteeae AGNB bacteriuria at any level was present in four Proteeae species carriers (26%) and 15 noncarriers (28.8%) (P greater than 0.05). There was a 36.7% frequency of Proteeae species bacteriuria in nursing home residents, in contrast to 8.1% among those living in private homes; this parallels the greater frequency of Proteeae species groin carriage among nursing home residents in the study population. Low-level urinary colonization with Proteeae species accompanying Proteeae species groin skin colonization in elderly individuals is a hitherto unrecognized finding. This may account for the greater frequency of Proteeae species urinary infections in this population.

William James Stillman. Images in the Archives of the Society for the Promotion of Hellenic Studies

“…40 If the date of 1869 is secure, speculation that Stillman initiated the rephotographic programme in 1882 because the original 1869 negatives were lost or destroyed may be incorrect. 41 The Hellenic Society negative register contains 44 entries for Stillman's Greek images, beginning with the catalogue number 3001 and concluding with 3043, with the entry for 3011 left blank. Thirteen of the captions contain enlargement numbers that 'equal' (or are said to 'almost equal') images in the numbered list of 25 photographs of ancient Athens mentioned in the 1902 edition of JHS.…”