Serratia marcescens is a Gram negative opportunistic human pathogen responsible for an increasing number of chronic nosocomial infections.1, 2 It produces a range of secreted products viz. Serratia marcescens displays relatively low virulence, it causes nosocomial (hospital acquired) infections in severely immunocompromised or critically ill patients, particularly in settings such as intensive care units (ICUs), especially neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) 18). Rutala WA, Kennedy VA, Loflin HB, Sarubbi FA Jr. An outbreak of nosocomial infections of the urinary tract due to a multiply drug-resistant strain of Serratia marcescens occurred at a community hospital. A prolonged outbreak (December 1980 to July 1982) of nosocomial urinary tract infections appeared to be due to strains of Serratia marcescens that were resistant to currently available antibiotics. Serratia Marcescens Symptoms Serratia marcescens symptoms are multiple in the human species but most commonly associated with the species’ role in nosocomial infections such as catheter-associated bacteremia and respiratory system, urinary tract, and wound infections. proteases, nucleases, lipases, chitinases, the biosurfactant serrawettin and hemolysin that enhances the virulence of the organism apart from evading it from the host immune system. Serratia marcescens, which can cause nosocomial outbreaks,and urinary tract and wound infections, is abundant in damp environments ().It can be easily found in bathrooms, including shower corners and basins, where it appears as a pink–orange–red discoloration, due to the pigment known as prodigiosin. In the early part of the 20 th century, Serratia marcescens was considered a nonpathogenic organism and was used in medical experiments and as a biological warfare test agent [ 1 ].
Serratia species are gram-negative bacilli of the Enterobacteriaceae group of bacteria, although they are not a common component of healthy human fecal flora. Abstract. Serratia marcescens, a gram-negative bacillus belonging to the family Enterobacteriaceae, was considered a nonpathogenic saprophytic water organism until … S marcescens is naturally resistant to ampicillin, macrolides, and first-generation cephalosporins. Symptoms of respiratory infection include sore throat and nasal and chest congestion. 33(3):217-24. Diagnosis in children often find … Nosocomial bloodstream infections, including Serratia marcescens, often result in a high mortality rate, especially if the patient develops endocarditis or meningitis that are known to because by the bacteria. For a urinary tract infection, the symptoms might include itching, burning discharge, and pain in the kidneys. However, there are at least 14 distinct strains of Serratia marcescens, some of … Serratia marcescens nosocomial infections of the urinary tract associated with urine measuring containers and urinometers. Serratia Infections. In hospitalized adults, it is very common in urinary tract infections and sometimes in wound infections. Serratia marcescens is normally associated with nosocomial infections like catheter-associated bacteremia.