Bacterium
Morganella morganii
Urease- and indole-positive nosocomial enteric rod
mor-guh-NELL-uh mor-GAN-ee-eye
High-yield clue
A urease-positive, indole-positive Enterobacterales rod causing catheter-associated/nosocomial UTI is the core study clue.
Overview
A Gram-negative enteric rod in the order Enterobacterales, historically grouped with the Proteae tribe (Morganellaceae). It is an opportunistic pathogen most often linked to healthcare-associated urinary tract and wound infections.
Classification
- Gram-negative
- Rod
- Enterobacterales
- Morganellaceae (Proteae tribe)
- Facultative anaerobe
Lab & identification clues
- Urease positive vocabulary
- Indole positive (contrast Proteus mirabilis, indole negative)
- Inducible AmpC beta-lactamase framing
- Lactose non-fermenter on MacConkey
Associations
- Healthcare-associated UTI study association
- Catheter-associated and postoperative wound infection
- Opportunistic infection in comorbid hosts
- Intrinsic/acquired antimicrobial-resistance framing
Commonly confused with
- Proteus mirabilis
- Providencia species
Your notes
Original student-study summary. Sources checked: OpenStax Microbiology 2e, NCBI Bookshelf Medical Microbiology, and CDC topic pages where applicable; reviewed 2026-06. Educational only; no diagnosis, treatment, dosing, or specimen-handling guidance.