Which characteristic is typical of a urinary tract infection caused by Proteus species?

A urinary tract infection caused by Proteus species is characterized by urease production, which leads to the hydrolysis of urea into ammonia. This reaction increases the pH of the urine, making it alkaline. This alkaline environment can contribute to the formation of struvite stones, which are often seen in infections with urease-producing bacteria like Proteus.

This property is particularly significant because it differentiates Proteus infections from those caused by other common urinary pathogens, which typically do not induce such alkalinity. The alkaline urine can also help in the diagnosis of the infection, as a urinalysis may show a higher pH level than normal.

The other characteristics listed do not align with the typical manifestations of a Proteus urinary tract infection; for instance, while acidic urine is common with many other bacterial infections, it is not typical in those caused by urease-producing organisms. Likewise, while it is possible to find erythrocytes in urine or increased glucose levels due to various other conditions, these findings are not defining characteristics of Proteus infections.