Chlorhexidine resistance in Proteus mirabilis

Proteus mirabilis is a common pathogen of the catheterised urinary tract and considered to be intrinsically resistant to the biocide chlorhexidine (CHD) This biocide is used extensively in healthcare settings both as a disinfectant and antiseptic. It is incorporated into a range of products such as wipes, hand washes, wound dressings, irrigation solutions, and lubricating gels, and routinely applied to prevent infection. Many catheter maintenance solutions and lubricating gels still contain CHD, and it is likely that P. mirabilis is still often exposed to varying concentrations of CHD as a nosocomial pathogen but the mechanisms of resistance to CHD are not well understood. This project looks at adaptation of P. mirabilis to CHD and the genetic and phenotypic changes associated with this.