Epidemiological markers of Serratia marcescens isolates causing nosocomial infections in Spain (1981-1991).
The distribution of epidemiological markers (serotyping and phage-typing) of Serratia marcescens isolates from nosocomial episodes (63 nosocomial cutbreaks with 475 isolates, and 1208 sporadic cases) received in our laboratory during the period 1981-1991 was studied. The records for 1683 isolates from Spanish hospitals have been analyzed. In relation with the sporadic cases, the predominant types were serotype O6 (13.4%) and serotype O14 (11.4%); polyagglutinable strains accounted for 15.6%; in outbreaks, type O14 is clearly predominant (27.4%). Phage-typing was a good secondary marker, with a 87.9% of typability; the number of lytic patterns was very high, extended patterns (six or more phages) being the most frequent. We have studied the characteristics of S. marcescens isolates causing infections in the nosocomial environment in Spain.
Boquete
T
T
Servicio de Bacteriología, Centro Nacional de Microbiología, Madrid, España.
Vindel
A
A
Martin-Bourgon
C
C
Azañedo
L
L
Sáez-Nieto
J A
JA
D001434:Bacteriophage Typing; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D012703:Serotyping; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology