A species of facultatively anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod shaped bacteria assigned to the phylum Proteobacteria. This species is motile, indole, methyl red, and urease positive, hydrolyzes esculin, ferments glucose and amygdalin, but not mannitol or lactose, and produces hydrogen sulfide. P. vulgaris is part of the normal human and animal intestinal flora and is widespread in the environment, but can also be an opportunistic pathogen in humans causing nosocomial, urinary tract, and other wound infections.

A species of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria that occurs in soil, fecal matter, and sewage. It is an opportunistic pathogen and causes cystitis and pyelonephritis.

Any bacterial organism that can be assigned to the species Proteus vulgaris.