Adhesion of Proteus mirabilis and Proteus vulgaris to uroepithelial cells following exposure to various antimicrobial agents

Abstract

The effect of subinhibitory concentrations of netilmicin, ceftriaxone, cefotaxime, aztreonam and piperacillin on the adherence of Proteus species to uroepithelial cells was examined. Bacterial adhesion to human uroepithelial cells, measured microscopically, was affected by all five antibiotics but to different extents. The most effective was netilmicin. There was a correlation between the decreased rate of bacterial attachment and morphological changes in the drug-exposed bacteria.