What does Serratia marcescens look like?

Serratia marcescens is a gram-negative rod-shaped facultatively anaerobic bacterium that is extremely motile. An S. marcescens gram stain shows short, pink-colored dots, as seen below. Rod-shaped bacteria, bacilliform bacteria or bacilli describe the typical shape of Serratia marcescens.

Is Serratia marcescens harmful to humans?

In rare cases, Serratia marcescens can be deadly. Along with other bacteria, Serratia marcescens is a source of hospital-acquired infections, which can happen if a patient’s immune system is severely compromised or if the bacterium enters the body with a catheter, respirator or other medical device.

How do you get Serratia infection?

The major factors that are involved in the development of the Serratia infection include contamination of the respiratory equipment and poor catheterization techniques. Most of the outbreaks have been reported from the paediatrics ward.

What does Serratia marcescens do to the body?

S. marcescens has been shown to cause a wide range of infectious diseases, including urinary, respiratory, and biliary tract infections, peritonitis, wound infections, and intravenous catheter-related infections, which can also lead to life-threatening bacteremia.

At what site is Serratia normally found?

It is commonly found in the respiratory and urinary tracts of hospitalized adults and in the gastrointestinal systems of children. Due to its abundant presence in the environment, and its preference for damp conditions, S.

How can you get Serratia marcescens?

It is associated with urinary and respiratory infections, endocarditis, osteomyelitis, septicemia, wound infections, eye infections, and meningitis. Transmission is by direct contact. Droplets of S. marcescens have been found growing on catheters, and in supposedly sterile solutions.

What symptoms does Serratia marcescens cause?

Symptoms may include fever, frequent urination, dysuria, pyuria, or pain upon urination. In 90% of cases, patients have a history of recent surgery or instrumentation of the urinary tract.

Can Serratia marcescens go away on its own?

Although extremely rare, it can also cause pneumonia and meningitis. Once s. marcescens has established itself on a surface, completely eliminating it can be very difficult. Total eradication of the bacteria can be only accomplished with a bleach-based disinfectant or cleaner.

Do healthy people get Serratia?

They do not cause infections in healthy individuals, but therapies, conditions, and procedures that compromise patients immunologically or physiologically make them susceptible to colonization by opportunistic pathogens, including Serratia. Infants, very old patients, and intravenous drug users are also susceptible.

Can Serratia marcescens be cured?

Abstract. An old man receiving peritoneal dialysis was diagnosed with Serratia marcescens peritonitis, a rare case with poor prognosis. Powerful antibiotics based on culture results and enough duration cured the case successfully despite its high virulence.

How do you get rid of Serratia marcescens bacteria?

Running your pink-tinged curtain through the washing machine on a gentle wash cycle with warm water effectively removes Serratia marcescens bacteria and any associated stains.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmCZa3RREvY