Bacterium
Proteus mirabilis
Urease-positive swarming rod
PROH-tee-us mir-AB-ih-lis
High-yield clue
Urease positive + swarming vocabulary is the Proteus study hook.
Overview
A Gram-negative rod used in coursework to connect urease positivity, swarming vocabulary, and enteric organism comparison.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Rod
- Enterobacterales
Lab & identification clues
- Urease positive
- Swarming motility vocabulary
- Non-lactose fermenter teaching contrast
Associations
- Urinary tract coursework association
- Stone-formation vocabulary
- Enteric comparison drills
Commonly confused with
- Klebsiella pneumoniae
- Escherichia coli
Frequently asked questions
What is Proteus mirabilis?
A Gram-negative rod used in coursework to connect urease positivity, swarming vocabulary, and enteric organism comparison.
What is the Gram stain of Proteus mirabilis?
Proteus mirabilis is Gram negative.
What are the lab clues for Proteus mirabilis?
Lab clues for Proteus mirabilis include Urease positive, Swarming motility vocabulary, and Non-lactose fermenter teaching contrast.
What is Proteus mirabilis commonly confused with?
Proteus mirabilis is commonly confused with Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli.
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.