Investigation of an outbreak of Serratia marcescens in a neonatal intensive care unit

Abstract

Present investigation suggested that an outbreak of S marcescens infection was caused by a major clone in our NICU, possibly transmitted through the hands of HCWs, emphasizing that strict hand washing before and after contact with patients must be the rule of the thumb.

A Serratia marcescens outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit was successfully managed by rapid hospital hygiene interventions and screening

“…However, solutions similar to ours have also been reported . According to earlier studies, S. marcescens can spread uncontrollably and contaminate the environment and instruments such as nursing equipment, ventilators and breastmilk . In the present study, we only took three environmental samples, from the faucet and ventilator, and these remained negative.…”

“…A specially assigned team was established to care for the infected or colonised neonates, but the staff were not screened, as healthcare workers are considered vectors, but not ultimate sources, of Serratia outbreaks . As mentioned above, S .…”

ESCMID guidelines for the management of the infection control measures to reduce transmission of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria in hospitalized patients

“…(particularly Enterobacter cloacae and Serratia marcescens ) are important nosocomial pathogens and outbreaks caused by these organisms have been documented. Cross‐transmission via transient contamination of HCWs’ hands has also been well documented in epidemic and endemic situations and outbreaks of bacteraemia involving both species have also been linked to contaminated medical products . Contamination both of dry surfaces and moist environments was particularly frequent when looked for, suggesting that environmental contamination played a central role in many outbreaks.…”

Food safety and quality of distribution of raw human milk from a University Hospital

“…Mature milk may have its color altered according to the diet of the nursing mother or by the use of medications, for example, milk with a greenish coloration due to a diet rich in riboflavin [10,16]. The "dark green" coloration is caused by the bacterium of the genus Pseudomonas, and the "brick red" coloration, may be due to the suspicion of blood in the milk by papillary discharge or nipple injury, or by the presence of the bacterium Serratia marcescens, making such sample unfit for human consumption [10], since this bacterium has been the causative agent of infections in children hospitalized in NICU [19]. In a study that investigated an outbreak of Serratia marcescens in an NICU in Turkey, it suggested the possibility of contamination through rHM, although it was not statistically correlated [19].…”