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Ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection due to Serratia marcescens

Andrew A Bremer1, Rabih O Darouiche

  • 1Medical Service, Infectious Disease Section, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Center for Prostheses Infection, Baylor College of Medicine, 1333 Moursund Avenue, Suite A221, Houston, TX 77030, USA.

The Journal of Infection
|January 26, 2005
PubMed

Insights

Serratia marcescens rarely causes central nervous system infections. This report details the first adult case of ventriculoperitoneal shunt infection by this bacterium without bowel perforation.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Neuroscience
  • Medical Microbiology

Background:

  • Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic Gram-negative bacillus.
  • It commonly causes respiratory, urinary tract, wound, and bloodstream infections.
  • Central nervous system (CNS) infections are rare.

Observation:

  • This study reports an exceedingly rare case of CNS infection.
  • The infection involved a ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt.
  • The patient was an adult.

Findings:

  • This is the first reported case of a VP shunt infection by Serratia marcescens in an adult.
  • It is also the first case of VP shunt infection by this organism without associated bowel perforation.
  • The findings highlight an unusual presentation of S. marcescens infection.

Implications:

  • This case expands the known spectrum of S. marcescens-related CNS infections.
  • It underscores the importance of considering rare pathogens in shunt infections.
  • Further research may elucidate mechanisms of CNS invasion by S. marcescens in the absence of gastrointestinal compromise.

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