Sensitivity Of The Genus Proteus To Chlorhexidine

SUMMARY The action of the antiseptic chlorhexidine has been tested against 205 strains of the genus Proteus. No strain was found to survive, under the conditions of the test, a concentration of 1 in 5000. The four species of the genus, however, varied in sensitivity. In general, Pr. mirabilis was the most resistant; Pr. rettgeri and Pr. morganii were the most sensitive; Pr. vulgaris tended to be less resistant than Pr. mirabilis and more so than Pr. rettgeri and Pr. morganii. The same strains were also tested against a number of chemotherapeutic drugs. Evidence that resistance to chlorhexidine among Pr. mirabilis strains was associated with multiple drug-resistance could not be established.