Microbiology: Serratia Marcescens

Year 1, Microbiology Class

Topic: Serratia Marcescens

What is Serratia Marcescens?
 Currey (n.d), states that Serratia marcescens is a rod-shaped gram-negative bacterium and is a member of the Enterobacteriaceae family. It is a facultative anaerobe that can grow in the presence and absence of oxygen at temperatures between thirty degrees Celsius and thirty seven degrees Celsius. It metabolizes by either respiratory or fermentative processes classifying it as a chemoorganotroph. Ubiquitous in nature, Serratia  marcescens is found on dead organic material, while some inhabit soil, water, air, plants, animals, or food. Serratia marcescens is a ubiquitous, essentially saprophytic bacterium with a preference for starches that has played a significant role in human affairs.  

Background

In the 1950s, the U.S. Army conducted a study called “Operation Sea-Spray” to study wind currents that might carry biological weapons. They filled balloons with Serratia marcescens and burst them over San Francisco just to see where the “harmless” red bacteria would land. However, shortly thereafter, doctors noted a drastic increase in pneumonia and urinary tract infections (Greenberg, 1978).

Where is Serratia Marcescens Present?

According to Khanna et al., (2013), the important reservoirs in epidemics of Serratia marcescens are: 
-The digestive tract
-The respiratory tract, 
-The urinary tracts 
-The perineum of neonates
-Artificial nails of adults and health care workers.
However, medical equipment, lotions, antiseptics, medications, blood products and sinks have also been described as the sources of epidemics.

Treatment

Serratia marcescens is treated with antibiotics, however it is resistant to certain antibiotics. In August of 2010, Serratia Marcescens was found to be resistant to ampicillin, macrolides and first-generation cephalosporins. A preferred treatment is an aminoglycoside such as amikacin along with cefpirome, an antipseudomonal beta-lactam. Other antibiotics that can be used are gentamicin, quinolones and newer cephalosporins.

Do you think this pathogen can cause havoc in our health care system if not treated properly? Why?

Below is a video clipping and a hyperlink with additional information on Serratia Marcescens. If you have any questions or queries, please leave them in the comment section.

Follow the link for more information: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY5KPRc6nj0

References:

Currey, S (n.d). Opportunistic Infections Caused by Serratia marcescens. Retrieved from: https://microbewiki.kenyon.edu/index.php/Opportunistic_Infections_Caused_by_Serratia_marc

Gillen, A. L. 2007. The Genesis of Germs: Disease and the Coming Plagues in a Fallen World. Green Forest, Arkansas: Master Books.

Greenberg L., (1978 November 12). Serratia Marcescens in human affairs. The National Center for Biotechnology Information (11):674-9.

Khanna, A., Khanna, M., & Aggarwal, A. (2013). Serratia Marcescens- A Rare Opportunistic      Nosocomial Pathogen and Measures to Limit it’s Spread in Hospitalized Patients. Journal of Clinical and Diagnostic Research : JCDR, 7(2), 243–246. http://doi.org/10.7860/JCDR/2013/5010.2737

Sartor, C., Jacomo, V., Duvivier, C., Tissot-Dupont, H., Sambuc, R., & Drancourt, M. (2000). Nosocomial Serratia marcescens Infections Associated With Extrinsic Contamination of a Liquid Nonmedicated Soap. Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology, 21(03), 196-199. doi:10.1086/501743