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Serratia infections in a general hospital: characteristics and outcomes

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Abstract

We aimed to present our experience regarding infections caused by Serratia spp. in a region with relatively high antimicrobial resistance rates. We retrospectively reviewed the databases of the microbiological laboratory of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete (2/2004–12/2009). A total of 77 patients [67.5% men, mean age ± standard deviation (SD) = 56.9 ± 24.5 years) were identified; 37.7% were outpatients. Sixty-five (84.4%) of the 77 included patients had a Serratia marcescens isolate; the remaining 12 patients had a non-marcescens Serratia spp. The most frequently observed infections were respiratory tract infection (32.5%) and keratitis/endophthalmitis (20.8%). Seventy-three (94.9%) patients were cured. Four deaths were observed; three of them were considered as attributed to the Serratia infection. No difference was found regarding the characteristics and outcomes between patients with Serratia marcescens and non-marcescens infections. In addition, antipseudomonal penicillins and their combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors, as well as carbapenemes, and fluoroquinolones exhibited high antimicrobial activity against both the tested Serratia marcescens and non-marcescens isolates. Our study adds useful information regarding the characteristics and outcomes of patients with Serratia infection, as well as the susceptibilities of the respective Serratia marcescens and non-marcescens isolates, in a region with relatively high levels of antimicrobial resistance.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    G. Samonis, M. Christofaki, D. Dimopoulou & D. P. Kofteridis

  2. Alfa Institute of Biomedical Sciences (AIBS), 9 Neapoleos Street, Marousi, 151 23, Athens, Greece

    E. K. Vouloumanou, E. Triantafyllou & M. E. Falagas

  3. Department of Clinical Microbiology, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece

    S. Maraki

  4. National Technical University of Athens, Athens, Greece

    E. Triantafyllou

  5. Department of Medicine, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, Greece

    M. E. Falagas

  6. Department of Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA

    M. E. Falagas

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  1. G. Samonis
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  2. E. K. Vouloumanou
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  3. M. Christofaki
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  7. D. P. Kofteridis
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  8. M. E. Falagas
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Correspondence to M. E. Falagas.

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Samonis, G., Vouloumanou, E.K., Christofaki, M. et al. Serratia infections in a general hospital: characteristics and outcomes. Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis 30, 653–660 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10096-010-1135-4

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