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Serratia marcescens and Neonatal Infections. Andrew Daley Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Sue Scott Infection Control Women’s and Children’s Health April 2004. Serratia species. Gram negative bacillus 7 species S. marcescens most common Motile, often red pigment Environmental
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Serratia marcescens and Neonatal Infections Andrew Daley Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Sue Scott Infection Control Women’s and Children’s Health April 2004
Serratia species • Gram negative bacillus • 7 species • S. marcescens most common • Motile, often red pigment • Environmental • water, soil, plants, insects, animals • Extracellular enzymes contribute to pathogenicity • elastase, lecithinase, caseinase etc. • May be antibiotic multi-resistant
The Miracle of Bolsena • Peter of Prague at the Church of Saint Christina, Bolsena, Italy, 1263 • Red pigment of Serratia on bread interpreted as the blood of Christ Raffaello Sanzio (1483-1520), Vatican bar = 5m
Serratia marcescensInfection Issues • Transmission on hands of staff most important mode of spread • Occasional focal environmental source • Infection usually occurs in compromised patients: • Pneumonia in ventilated patients • UTI in catheterised patients • Post-operative wound infections • Blood stream infection in patients with intravenous access devices
Published S. marcescens Nursery Outbreaks – implicated sources • Liquid theophyline • Milk from used bottles • Ventilator equipment • Breast pumps • Enteral feed additives • Emolient skin cleansers • Antiseptic soaps • Suction tubing • Disinfectants
Serratia marcescensClinical Presentation • Bacteraemia / septicaemia • Meningitis • ventriculitis, cysts • cell count may be normal • mortality 40% • Pneumonia • Urinary tract infection • Soft-tissue infection • Overall mortality 14%
S. marcescens Nosocomial Infections • United States CDC-NNIS* • 2.0% of blood stream infections • 2.8% of surgical site infections • 3.6% of pneumonia * All age groups
S. marcescens in RCH - NNU • Sporadic infections occur in Intensive Care Units: • 2001 3 cases • 1 septicaemia • 2 urinary tract infections • 2002 2 cases • 1 urinary tract infection • 1 conjunctivitis
S. marcescens in RWH - NICU • Sporadic infections occur in Intensive Care Units: • 2001 0 cases • 2002 3 conjunctivitis • 2003 2 conjunctivitis
Infection Control Recommendations for Level III Nurseries • Cohort colonised babies • Weekly screening of non-colonised babies • Meticulous hand hygiene practices • Gowns & gloves for all patient contact likely to produce contamination
Infection Control Recommendations for Level III Nurseries • Do not move equipment between rooms • Equipment may need to be decontaminated with 500ppm hypochlorite • Limit room access to essential personnel • Effective discharge planning • Communication and Education