title: [Isolation of Serratia marcescens from patient specimens in one Japanese hospital between April 2002 and March 2004].
abstract: In this study, the isolation frequency, 131 isolates including seven duplicates from the same patient, of Serratia marcescens from patient specimens obtained at Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital between April 2002 and March 2004 was investigated in comparison with 156 isolates including 8 duplicates, obtained between April 1999 and March 2002. The isolation percentage of 40%, 53 isolates from respiratory specimens in the recent period was the same with that of 40%, 62 isolates in the previous period, while that percentage of 12%, 16 isolates from urine specimens, was significantly smaller than the previous percentage of 24%, 37 isolates p < 0.01, X2-test). Furthermore, the isolation percentage of 41%, 20 of 49 isolates with serotype 02 from respiratory specimens, in the recent period did not significantly differ from that of 43%, 18 of 42 isolates, in the previous period. However, the isolation percentage of 24%, 9 of 37 isolates with serotype 014 from urine specimens, in the recent period was significantly smaller than that of 67%, 20 of 30 isolates, in previous period (p < 0.001, chi squared-test). The decrease in this period resulted from having avoided unnecessary monitoring for urinary tract infection without diagnostic value. The isolation percentage of 12%, 16 isolates from blood specimens, in this period was significantly greater than that of 3%, 4 isolates, in the previous period (p < 0.001, chi squared-test). By pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) analysis of Spe I-restricted chromosomal DNA, clones from 5 of 6 isolates from blood specimens were identical to the isolate from another specimen (sputum, catheter-derived urine, indwelling catheter, used IVH catheter tip, or used drainage tube), while the one remaining isolate were a neighbor clone to the isolate from aspirated sputum. Such incidents seemed to have been caused by serratial cross-contamination in the hospital, reflecting inadequate practice of standard precautions.
authors.affiliation: Clinical Pathology, Showa University Fujigaoka Hospital, Yokohama 227-8501.
authors.forename: Kenji
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Marumo
authors.forename: Kazumi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Taguchi
mesh_terms: D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D012703:Serotyping; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*