title: Serratia infections in a general hospital: characteristics and outcomes.
abstract: We aimed to present our experience regarding infections caused by Serratia spp. in a region with relatively high antimicrobial resistance rates. We retrospectively reviewed the databases of the microbiological laboratory of the University Hospital of Heraklion, Crete (2/2004-12/2009). A total of 77 patients [67.5% men, mean age ± standard deviation (SD) = 56.9 ± 24.5 years) were identified; 37.7% were outpatients. Sixty-five (84.4%) of the 77 included patients had a Serratia marcescens isolate; the remaining 12 patients had a non-marcescens Serratia spp. The most frequently observed infections were respiratory tract infection (32.5%) and keratitis/endophthalmitis (20.8%). Seventy-three (94.9%) patients were cured. Four deaths were observed; three of them were considered as attributed to the Serratia infection. No difference was found regarding the characteristics and outcomes between patients with Serratia marcescens and non-marcescens infections. In addition, antipseudomonal penicillins and their combinations with beta-lactamase inhibitors, as well as carbapenemes, and fluoroquinolones exhibited high antimicrobial activity against both the tested Serratia marcescens and non-marcescens isolates. Our study adds useful information regarding the characteristics and outcomes of patients with Serratia infection, as well as the susceptibilities of the respective Serratia marcescens and non-marcescens isolates, in a region with relatively high levels of antimicrobial resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Heraklion, Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Samonis
authors.forename: E K
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Vouloumanou
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Christofaki
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dimopoulou
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Maraki
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Triantafyllou
authors.forename: D P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Kofteridis
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Falagas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007634:Keratitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents