S. marcescens is commonly involved in hospital-acquired infections (HAIs), also called nosocomial infections, particularly catheter-associated bacteremia, urinary tract infections, and wound infections, and is responsible for 1.4% of HAI cases in the United States.
In conclusion, S. marcescens is a rare but devastating cause of endocarditis with a primary risk factor of intravenous drug use but with a predilection for left-sided valvular lesions, not right-sided lesions.
Serratia Marcescens Infections
Serratia marcescens is now known to be a common cause of human infections in the respiratory tract, digestive tract, and in wound site infection. Serratia marcescens is a common cause of so-called hospital acquired infections in both patients and healthcare workers.
Serratia marcescens, which can cause nosocomial outbreaks,and urinary tract and wound infections, is abundant in damp environments (Figure). 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.
More recently, Serratia marcescens has been found to be pathogenic to a small percentage of people, having been identified as a cause of urinary tract infections, wound infections, and pneumonia in hospital environments. Once established, the organism usually cannot be eliminated entirely.
The good news is Serratia marcescens is mostly harmless. Touching it while you're showering or cleaning won't cause any problems (in rare cases it can cause infections through open wounds or the eye).
They do not cause infections in healthy individuals, but therapies, conditions, and procedures that compromise patients immunologically or physiologically make them susceptible to colonization by opportunistic pathogens, including Serratia. Infants, very old patients, and intravenous drug users are also susceptible.
Though Serratia will not survive in chlorinated drinking water, the bacteria can grow in toilets where water is left standing long enough for the chlorine to dissipate. To kill the bacteria, clean affected surfaces with a strong chlorine bleach solution.
Symptoms may include fever, frequent urination, dysuria, pyuria, or pain upon urination. In 90% of cases, patients have a history of recent surgery or instrumentation of the urinary tract.
Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen that is primarily responsible for hospital-related infections. You can get infected with Serratia marcescens through: Contact with contaminated hospital equipment, such as catheters. Direct contact through infected people.
The overall mortality rate of S. marcescens bacteremia remains high, ranging from 25-58%.
Prognosis of Serratia infection is generally good in urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and local wound infections.
Severe Serratia infection (bacteremia) carries a mortality rate of 26%. Among survivors, the prognosis for complete recovery is good. S marcescens endophthalmitis carries a poor prognosis in terms of maintaining vision.
“It will grow when there is sufficient water around, and it's there, in damp places with little competition from other microbes, that it's likely to become abundant,” Gilbert said. Serratia marcescens has been known to contaminate contact lenses and cause irritation or eye infections.
Serratia infections should be treated with an aminoglycoside plus an antipseudomonal beta-lactam, as the single use of a beta-lactam can select for resistant strains.
S. marcescens infections are transmitted through hand-to-hand contact by medical personnel. In this case, solutions used for medical purposes, catheterizations, and needle punctures can be contaminated and infect patients.
Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) is a gram-negative bacillus that occurs naturally in soil and water and produces a red pigment at room temperature. It is associated with urinary and respiratory infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septicemia, wound infections, eye infections, and meningitis.
this various incubation period, the results elucidated that 48 hours incubation showed the highest pigment production in S.
It produces a fishy-urinary odor (trimethylalamine). It can be isolated from food, soil, water, plants, insects, and sewage. It is a potential pathogen for insects, animals, and humans and is an important cause of nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections in humans.
To prevent outbreaks of S. marcescens bloodstream infection, management of antiseptics and transfusion in addition to contact precaution should be taken.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa was killed in 10 seconds by all concentrations of ethanol from 30% to 100% (v/v), and Serratia marcescens, E, coli and Salmonella typhosa were killed in 10 seconds by all concentrations of ethanol from 40% to 100%.
Prevent Serratia marcescens by cleaning carefully.
Serratia marcescens is more likely to spread in damp areas, so towel-dry or squeegee the hard surfaces of your shower after every use to remove excess water. Use a damp paper towel to wipe away soap or shampoo residue anywhere it collects in the shower after every use.
Conclusions: Treatment of SM infections should include carbapenems or aminoglycosides in combination with third-generation (and eventually fourth-generation) cephalosporin. Cotrimoxazole should be considered in cases of uncomplicated urinary infections.
Filtering water can remove particles that may contain Serratia marcescens. Water filtration systems can help filter the chlorine so that the “pink stuff” won't be on sinks. Banish pink slime from your home today!
Serratia is usually treated with antibiotics, but it is naturally resistant to several common antibiotics such as ampicillin, macrolides, and first-generation cephalosporins.