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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1972 March; 23(3): 592-594
Copyright © 1972 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Characterization of Indole-Positive Proteus mirabilis

Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Department of Pediatrics, University of Minnesota School of Medicine, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55455
Center for Disease Control, Atlanta, Georgia 30333

ABSTRACT

Thirteen indole-producing, swarming strains of Proteus were identified by additional biochemical testing as being Proteus mirabilis. These strains were characterized by 40 biochemical tests and by susceptibility testing to 11 antibiotics. All produced ornithine decarboxylase and were susceptible to members of the penicillin-cephalosporin groups of antibiotics. These indole-positive strains are similar to indole-negative P. mirabilis and are distinctly different from P. vulgaris. For greatest accuracy and to insure greatest clinical relevancy, P. mirabilis and P. vulgaris should be distinguished from one another in the laboratory by performing both the indole and ornithine decarboxylase tests.