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Updated: Aug 7, 2026

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
06:34

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS

Published on: July 11, 2016

[Serratia marcescens infections in a hospital: typing of isolated strains]

M Yde

    Archives Belges = Belgisch Archief
    |January 1, 1989
    PubMed

    Insights

    A hospital outbreak of Serratia marcescens was linked to contaminated pressure transducer heads. The epidemic strain, O14H4, exhibited specific antibiotic resistance due to a plasmid.

    Area of Science:

    • Clinical microbiology
    • Infectious disease epidemiology
    • Molecular typing

    Context:

    • Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen frequently implicated in hospital-acquired infections.
    • Nosocomial outbreaks necessitate detailed epidemiological investigation to identify sources and transmission routes.

    Purpose:

    • To investigate a suspected nosocomial outbreak of Serratia marcescens within a hospital setting.
    • To characterize the epidemic strain and identify its source and transmission dynamics.

    Summary:

    • Ninety-six Serratia marcescens strains from various clinical and environmental sources were analyzed using serotyping, antibiotic resistance profiling, plasmid analysis, and biotyping.
    • A specific strain (serotype O14H4, biotype A5) with a plasmid conferring resistance to gentamicin, streptomycin, and sulfamethoxazole was identified as the epidemic type, predominantly isolated from blood and contaminated pressure transducer heads in the intensive care unit (ICU).
    • Non-epidemic strains showed different serotype and biotype distributions, with O14H12 and O14H4 being most prevalent.

    Impact:

    • Identified contaminated pressure transducer heads as a likely source of a Serratia marcescens nosocomial outbreak.
    • Characterized the genetic and phenotypic traits of the epidemic strain, aiding in infection control strategies.
    • Provided data on the prevalence of different Serratia marcescens serotypes and biotypes, contributing to national surveillance data.

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