Abstract
The aim of this study was to the evaluation of frequency and distribution of Serratia marcescens in the hospital departments and determination of antimicrobial resistance of the isolated strains. Methods: The study included 81 Serratia marcescens strains isolated from 61 patients hospitalized in the in the different hospital wards of Al-Noor Specialist Hospital within the period from 1/11/2012 to 1/11/2013. The strains were isolated from wound swabs, blood cultures, sputum, urine culture, fluid, catheter and throat swab, wound swabs, blood cultures and cerebrospinal fluid. Results: The isolates were identified by conventional method and the results and susceptibility testing were confirmed by VITEC-2 Compact. Most frequently Serratia marcescens has been implicated in ICU [21%] followed by male medical [18.5%] and emergency department [12.3%]. The resistance of Serratia strains was high, excepting imipenem (15%), Meropenem (27) and the resistance was higher with ampicillin (97.5%), Cefoxitin (90%) and Tetracycline (86%). Conclusion: Continuous monitoring of nosocomial infections is indispensable. Phenotypic characterization of the isolates is useful for studying the relationship of microbial pathogens.
Highlights
Serratia marcescens is opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infection
Serratia marcescens strains in our study were isolated from various clinical specimens, wound swabs (26), blood cultures (26), fluid (3), sputum (15), urine culture (7), catheter (2), and throat swab (2) within the period from 1/11/2012 to 1/11/2013
Serratia marcescens infections were registered in intensive care units (ICUs) [21%] followed by male medical [18.5%], emergency department [12.3%], female medical [7.4%], Critical Care Unit (CCU) [6.2%], Diabetic Foot Dressing
Summary
Serratia marcescens is opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infection. The organism has been implicated abroad range of infections including respiratory tract, bloodstream, central nervous system, urinary tract and epiglottitis [1] [2].Patients most at risk are those in intensive care units who are subjected to medical devices, especially central venous catheters, and those treated with broad-spectrum antimicrobial drugs [3]. Serratia marcescens is opportunistic pathogen causing nosocomial infection. The organism has been implicated abroad range of infections including respiratory tract, bloodstream, central nervous system, urinary tract and epiglottitis [1] [2]. The first description of nosocomial infection caused by Serratia marcescens was Wheat’s report of 11 cases over a 6-month period in 1951 at Stanford University Hospital [4]. Infections caused by this organism have been reported with increasing frequency since 1960 [5]. Serratia marcescens has expressed the ability to survive and grow under extreme conditions, including in disinfectants, antiseptics and double-distilled water [6]. Multidrug resistance of serratia strains poses another serious threat for patient, restricting therapeutic options
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