Serratia Marcescens: An Outbreak Report from Neonatal Ward

AA Alipour

Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences

Peer-reviewed Medical Quarterly

Current Issue All Issues In Press Accepted Manuscripts Search

Journal Information Boards and Committees Indexing and Listing Sources Journal Metrics Open Peer Review (OPR)Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement Reviewer and AE Registration Form Contact Us Support

Authors Guide Submit Manuscript

Serratia Marcescens: An Outbreak Report from Neonatal Ward

Author(s):

AA Alipour^1,*

1Iran

Journal of Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences:Vol. 11, issue 1; e81867

Published online:Jun 20, 2007

Article type:Research Article

Received:Jun 07, 2004

Accepted:Sep 17, 2006

How to Cite:AA AlipourSerratia Marcescens: An Outbreak Report from Neonatal Ward.J Kermanshah Univ Med Sci.11(1):e81867.

Abstract

Introduction: Serratia marcescens is a serious death-causing factor especially for premature and low birth weighted neonates, and has become an important cause of nosocomial infection over the last years. It is a motile, non-sporulating gram-negative bacillus classified in the family enterobacteriacea. This group of bacteria affect on immune system mainly in newborns.

In this report, we describe the course of the outbreak we had experienced and the measures taken to control it.

Materials & Methods: All of the medical records and other associated variables of patients suffered from serratia marcescens infection were studied. . Also certain procedures including cell cultures of medical equipments, water supply, sanitation of medical personels and patients, were done to find sources of the outbreak in neonatal ward (Kermanshah – Iran).

Results: 565 hospitalized patients from September 2000 till March 2001 was studied.33 patients showed positive infection results with Serration Marcescens and confirmed using blood culture (68.8%), in cerebro-spinal fluid culture (23.2%) and both methods (6.8). 13 out of 33 (39.4%) patients have died. Finally it was found that the source of infection could derive from hospital water supply since after taking preventive steps such as controlling consumed water no cases were found with Serration marcescens.

Conclusion: This study showed that outbreak of serratia marcescens would lead to serious in the newborn infants. Marcessence infection in newborn wards is difficult to manage and may temporarily need closure of units to new admissions and care should be exercised to control the spread.

Awareness of the danger for the presence of this organism in a newborn unit and controlling its spread will be necessary to prevent life threatening infection in the high risk newborn in the future.

Keywords

Neonate

Nosocomaial Infection

Serratia

Fulltext

The full text of this article is available on PDF

comments