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Serratia marcescens in a newborn unit--microbiological features
Pathology
|April 1, 1984
Abstract:
During a 12 mth period in a newborn unit (NBU), Serratia marcescens was isolated from 3 fatal cases of meningitis, 5 cases of septicemia, 5 of pneumonia, 4 or urinary tract infection and 15 of conjunctivitis. At the peak of the outbreak a 95% incidence of rectal colonization with S. marcescens was observed in the NBU. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of sodium dodecylsulphate disrupted Serratia (SDS-PAGE) established that all isolates were identical.
Insights
A Serratia marcescens outbreak in a newborn unit caused meningitis, septicemia, and pneumonia. Rectal colonization reached 95%, with all bacterial isolates proving identical.
Area of Science:
- Medical Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Serratia marcescens is an opportunistic pathogen.
- Nosocomial infections in neonatal units pose significant risks.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate an outbreak of Serratia marcescens in a newborn unit.
- To characterize the clinical manifestations and epidemiology of the outbreak.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of clinical isolates over 12 months.
- Identification of S. marcescens through standard microbiological methods.
- Molecular typing using SDS-PAGE to assess isolate relatedness.
Main Results:
- S. marcescens was linked to meningitis, septicemia, pneumonia, urinary tract infections, and conjunctivitis.
- Peak rectal colonization incidence reached 95% during the outbreak.
- SDS-PAGE confirmed all S. marcescens isolates were identical, indicating a common source.
Conclusions:
- A single strain of S. marcescens caused a significant outbreak in the newborn unit.
- High rates of colonization suggest efficient transmission within the unit.
- Effective infection control measures are crucial to prevent such outbreaks.