Clinical Microbiological Characteristics and Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Proteus spp. Isolated from Cancer Patients at K Hospital

Nguyen Thanh Tung1, Nguyen Thi Tuyet Nga2, Nguyen Thi Thanh Thanh Huyen2, Nguyen Thi Thuy Lien2, Nguyen Thanh Viet2,
1 Vietnam Tan Trieu National Cancer Hospital
2 Le Huu Trac National Burn Hospital

Main Article Content

Abstract

Background: Proteus spp. are opportunistic Gram-negative pathogens associated with a wide range of healthcare-associated infections, particularly among immunocompromised patients. Continuous surveillance of antimicrobial susceptibility patterns is essential for guiding empirical antibiotic therapy and supporting antimicrobial stewardship programs in oncology settings.
Objective: To describe the clinical microbiological characteristics and antimicrobial susceptibility profiles of Proteus spp. isolated from cancer patients at K Hospital.
Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on 20 Proteus spp. isolates recovered from clinical specimens of cancer patients treated at K Hospital from January 2025 to June 2026. Demographic characteristics, specimen types, bacterial species, and antimicrobial susceptibility data were collected and analyzed using R software version 4.4.1.
Results: The median age of patients was 66 years (IQR: 57 - 72), and 50.0% were male. Proteus mirabilis accounted for 90.0% of all isolates. Urine was the most common specimen type (35.0%). High resistance rates were observed for nitrofurantoin [100.0%], amoxicillin (88.9%), ampicillin (88.2%), and trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (77.8%). All tested isolates were susceptible to meropenem, ertapenem, piperacillin/tazobactam, and ceftazidime.
Conclusions: Proteus spp. isolated from cancer patients at K Hospital exhibited high resistance rates to several commonly used antibiotics, whereas broad-spectrum agents, including carbapenems and piperacillin/tazobactam, retained excellent antimicrobial activity. These findings provide valuable data for local antimicrobial resistance surveillance and may assist clinicians in selecting appropriate antimicrobial therapy in oncology practice.

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References

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