• See Also
  1. Enterobacteriaceae
  2. Gram Negative Bacteria
  • Definitions
  1. Serratia
    1. Genus in the Enterobacteriaceae family
    2. Grouped with ESP Gram Negative Bacteria (Enterobacter, Serratia, Providencia)
    3. Facultatively anaerobic, motile Gram-negative rods
    4. Serratia species are found in in the environment (soil, water and on plant surfaces)
    5. Serratia Marcescens is the most common human pathogen in the genus, and the focus of this page
    6. Several other species are similar to S. Marcescens and are consider part of S. Marcescens complex
      1. Serratia nematodiphila
      2. Serratia bockelmannii
      3. Serratia ureilytica
      4. Serratia nevei
  • Pathophysiology
  1. Serratia Marcescens is a facultatively anaerobic, motile, Gram-negative rod in the Enterobacteriaceae family
    1. Discovered in 1819 by Italian pharmacist, Bizio
    2. Grouped with ESP Gram Negative Bacteria (Enterobacter, Serratia, Providencia)
    3. Found in soil, water, and on plant surfaces
  2. Serratia Marcescens causes opportunistic infections
  3. Unique Characteristics
    1. Produces a distinct, bright red pigment
  4. Multi-drug Resistance
    1. Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
    2. ESBL-Producing Enterobacteriaceae
  • Risk Factors
  1. Elderly with comorbidities
  2. Newborns (esp. NICU)
  3. Nosocomial Infections (esp. Intensive Care patients, colonizes ICU water sinks)
  • Associated Conditions
  1. Urinary Tract Infections
  2. Wound Infections
  3. Pneumonia
  4. Neonatal bacteremia
  1. Precautions
    1. Serratia Marcescens demonstrates significant multi-drug Resistance
  2. Uncomplicated Urinary Tract Infection
    1. Trimethoprim Sulfamethoxazole
  3. Systemic infections
    1. Aminoglycoside AND
    2. Third Generation Cephalosporin (or Fourth Generation Cephalosporin)
  • References
  1. Aracil-Gisbert (2024) mBio 15(5):e0305423 +PMID: 38564701 [PubMed]
  2. Pérez-Viso (2024) Microbiol Spectr 12(2):e0276223 +PMID: 38230939 [PubMed]
  3. Zivkovic (2023) Antibiotics 12(2):367 +PMID: 36830278 [PubMed]