Serratia Species

What Serratia species is clinically important?

Serratia marcescens

Serratia is found?

Widely distributed in nature. Soil and water.

What type of nosocomial infections is Serratia found?

Urinary or respiratory tracts

Serratia is implicated in?

Bacteremia outbreaks in nurseries, cardiac surgery, and burn units

Why did Serratia make the headlines?

When antiseptic solution used for joint injections was contaminated and caused an epidemic of septic arthritis.

Serratia is fairly resistant to antibiotics

True

Serratia species involving lactose fermenting

Organisms are usually lactose negative but some will ferment lactose slowly and thus termed late lactose fermenters.

Serratia strains found in the enviroment?

Will produce characteristic pink pigment, especially when cultures are left at room temperature.

Serratia Ferments glucose without?

Gas production

Serratia is positive with?

Motile, citrate positive, and gelatinase positive,

What are most of Serratia species?

Achromogenic or non pigmented but some will turn red when incubated at room temperature

What does Serratia produce that is unusual for Enterobacteriaceae species?

Produce an extracellular DNase

What is Serratia intrinsically resistant to?

Cephalothin, polymyxins, and nitrofurantoin

What is Serratias clinical significanca?

Pathogenesis and Infectious Disease

Where does Serratia primarily occur in patients?

Debilitated individuals and drug addicts

What isolate is most common with Serratia?

S. marcescens

Serratia is an opportunist associated with?

Pneumonia, bacteremia, septicemia, endocarditis, localized cellulitis, burn infections, and urinary tract infections developing from indwelling catheters

How can Serratia SOMETIMES appear on the MAC?

Bright Red