Fatal meningitis due to Serratia marcescens after stapedectomy

Meningitis and septicemia due to Serratia marcescens developed in a patient postoperatively after stapedectomy. The infection with this organism is rare but has to be considered in differential diagnosis of bacterial meningitis because the early treatment with intrathecal administration of antibiotics may be lifesaving. Most of the reported cases of meningitis due to Serratia were due to S marcescens.