title: Serratia marcescens meningitis: epidemiology, prognostic factors and treatment outcomes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Serratia marcescens is a rare pathogen of central nervous system infections. This study was to investigate the epidemiology, prognostic factors, and treatment outcomes of S. marcescens meningitis.
  
  
  METHODS
  This retrospective analysis included 33 patients with culture-proven S. marcescens meningitis hospitalized between January 2000 and June 2011.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 33 patients enrolled, only one did not receive neurosurgery before the onset of S. marcescens meningitis. Patients with S. marcescens meningitis had higher ratios of brain solid tumors (54.5%) and neurosurgery (97.0%) with a mortality rate of 15.2%. The mean interval between the first neurosurgical procedure and the diagnosis of meningitis was 17.1 days (range, 4-51 days). Only one third-generation cephalosporin-resistant S. marcescens isolate was recovered from the patients' cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimens. Compared with the favorable outcome group (n = 20), the unfavorable outcome group (n = 13) had a higher percentage of brain solid tumors, more intensive care unit stays, and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score, CSF lactate and serum C-reactive protein concentrations at diagnosis of meningitis. Under the multiple regression analysis, CSF lactate concentration ≥2-fold the upper limit of normal (ULN) was independently associated with unfavorable outcomes (odds ratio, 7.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-47.96; p = 0.041).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  S. marcescens meningitis is highly associated with neurosurgical procedures for brain solid tumors. CSF lactate concentration ≥2x ULN may predict an unfavorable outcome. Its mortality is not high and empiric treatment with parenteral third-generation cephalosporins may have a satisfactory clinical response.
authors.affiliation: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at Linkou, Chang Gung University College of Medicine, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yen-Mu
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Po-Chang
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Chien-Chang
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Hong-Jyun
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Jung-Jr
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Ye
authors.forename: Ching-Tai
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ming-Hsun
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002511:Cephalosporins / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D016920:Meningitis, Bacterial / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D002511:Cephalosporins