AAMI Microbiology for Embalmers Practice Exam

Open burn wounds are highly susceptible to infection by opportunistic bacteria such as Proteus vulgaris. When skin is damaged, the barrier to microbes is lost and tissue is moist and nutrient-rich, creating an ideal environment for colonization. Proteus vulgaris is a gram-negative, urease-positive organism that can readily inhabit and spread across wound surfaces thanks to its motility and tendency to swarm on moist tissue. Its urease activity raises the local pH, which can impair healing and support further bacterial growth, making infection harder to control. In burn patients with compromised defenses, this organism is a recognized cause of wound complication, alongside other pathogens like Pseudomonas and Staphylococcus. So the statement is true.