First reported successful management of Serratia marcescens bacteremia after open heart surgery in a child.
A 7 and one-half yr-old girl developed bacteremia from S. marcescens following debanding of the pulmonary artery and closure of multiple ventricular septal defects with a Dacron patch and multiple Teflon pledgets. The site of entry was probably a radial arterial catheter left in place for 8 days. Infection was eradicated by a combination of gentamicin and carbenicillin over a 4-wk period. Of 12 cases of postoperative Serratia bacteremia in adults following valve replacement, only four survived. Antibiotics of proven effectiveness against the specific isolated Serratia strain, prompt therapy sustained for 6 wk offers the prospect for cure of this serious complication of cardiac surgery.
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D004697:Endocarditis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology; D004756:Enterobacteriaceae Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006345:Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011185:Postpericardiotomy Syndrome; D011651:Pulmonary Artery / Q000601:surgery; D018805:Sepsis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology*; D012706:Serratia marcescens
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents