Can Serratia cause pneumonia?

Currently Serratia is the seventh most common cause of pneumonia with an incidence of 4.1% in the US, 3.2% in Europe and 2.4% in Latin America (51), and the tenth most common cause of bloodstream infection with an incidence of 2.0% amongst hospitalized patients (2).

What infections does Serratia cause?

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.

How do you get Serratia in lungs?

It can naturally occur in soil and water as well as in the intestine. It can often involve the lungs as a nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infection. Serratia species may sometimes harbor multidrug-resistance mechanisms that can complicate treatment.

How is Serratia pneumonia treated?

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. Most strains are susceptible to amikacin, but reports indicate increasing resistance to gentamicin and tobramycin.

What is Serratia marcescens pneumonia?

Introduction. Serratia marcescens is a Gram-negative bacillus which belongs to the family Enterobacteriaceae. It is a facultative anaerobe and produces red pigment at room temperature. It naturally occurs in soil and water as well as the intestines, and it is responsible for nosocomial infections.

Pneumonia: Common Microbial Causes – Respiratory Medicine | Lecturio

Can Serratia marcescens make you sick?

S. marcescens has been shown to cause a wide range of infectious diseases, including urinary, respiratory, and biliary tract infections, peritonitis, wound infections, and intravenous catheter-related infections, which can also lead to life-threatening bacteremia.

What disease does Serratia marcescens cause?

Well-documented infections caused by S. marcescens include pneumonia, urinary tract infection, bacteremia, biliary tract infection, wound infection, meningitis, and endocarditis. Rarely does it present as cellulitis and necrotizing fasciitis (NF), resulting in severe sepsis and multiorgan failure.

How does Serratia marcescens enter the body?

marcescens infections are known to be 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(31). Patients may also be infected with S.

At what sites is Serratia normally found?

It is commonly found in the respiratory and urinary tracts of hospitalized adults and in the gastrointestinal systems of children. Due to its abundant presence in the environment, and its preference for damp conditions, S.

Can Serratia marcescens be cured?

Abstract. An old man receiving peritoneal dialysis was diagnosed with Serratia marcescens peritonitis, a rare case with poor prognosis. Powerful antibiotics based on culture results and enough duration cured the case successfully despite its high virulence.

How common is Serratia?

Currently Serratia is the seventh most common cause of pneumonia with an incidence of 4.1% in the US, 3.2% in Europe and 2.4% in Latin America (51), and the tenth most common cause of bloodstream infection with an incidence of 2.0% amongst hospitalized patients (2). S.

Is Serratia marcescens airborne?

Since Serratia marcescens is airborne, it's possible that you might notice more pink slime around your home during warm weather when your windows are open. Or, if you use a water filter that removes chlorine, you might find that your sinks, bathtubs and toilets are more hospitable to the bacterium.

Will Cipro treat Serratia marcescens?

marcescens were resistant to ciprofloxacin, 48%, 24%, and 23% were resistant to cefotaxime, aztreonam, and cefepime, respectively.

Can Serratia cause UTI?

There have been only a few reported human cases of infections caused by Serratia rubidae in literature. Among these sparse cases there is only one reported case of urinary tract infection (UTI) due to S. rubidae in literature. The organism is known to produce a red pigment known as prodigiosin.

What temperature does Serratia marcescens grow?

Optimally, Serratia marcescens grows at 37°C, but it can grow in temperatures that range from 5–40°C. They grow in pH levels that range from 5 to 9 [14]. Serratia marcescens is well known for the red pigmentation it produces called prodigiosin.

What disinfectant kills Serratia marcescens?

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.

Can Serratia marcescens cause diarrhea?

Serratia marcescens is incriminated in hospital-associated infections, and HIV/AIDS associated diarrhea. We have recently found that Serratia spp. may be found more commonly in the stools of patients with diarrhea than in asymptomatic control children.

Where does Serratia marcescens bacteria come from?

The pink colour is due to a pigment secreted by a species of bacteria known as Serratia marcescens, found naturally in soil, air and water. They can cause infections, but that generally happens in hospitals and affects people with compromised immune systems.

What happens if I touch Serratia marcescens?

If an infected hand touches the eye and natural immunity is unable to fend off Serratia colonization, the result might be conjunctivitis, keratitis or tear duct infections, for example. Once in the bloodstream, Serratia bacteria can cause endocarditis, bacteremia, meningitis, osteomyelitis and arthritis.

What are the symptoms of Serratia marcescens?

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.

Does Serratia marcescens have an odor?

MACROSCOPIC APPEARANCE. Colonies often appear opaque, somewhat iridescent, white, pink, magenta, or red. Cultures can produce two kinds of odors, a fishy to urinary odor or a musty, potato-like odor.

Is Serratia marcescens pathogenic?

Serratia marcescens is a Gram-negative bacterium that causes disease in plants and in a wide range of both invertebrate and vertebrate hosts (Grimont and Grimont, 1978). It is an opportunistic human pathogen and in the last three decades there has been a steady increase in nosocomial S.

How does Serratia marcescens start?

The major factors that are involved in the development of the Serratia infection include contamination of the respiratory equipment and poor catheterization techniques. Most of the outbreaks have been reported from the paediatrics ward.

What is the pink ring in my toilet bowl?

Toilets often develop a pink or slightly orange ring around the bowl right at the waterline, especially if the toilet is rarely used. It probably isn't rust or a mineral. The bad news is that slimy, anaerobic bacteria called Serratia Marcescens cause this ring.