Serratia

Serratia is a genus of Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae. The main species of clinical importance is Serratia marcescens.

Characteristics

Serratia are motile (apart from S. marcescens), and are capable of producing a red pigment called prodigiosin, which is associated with a characteristic "bleeding" appearance on agar plates. The production of prodigiosin is a characteristic of some Serratia species, but not all.

Pathogenesis

Serratia species are opportunistic pathogens, taking advantage of the host's lowered immune system to cause infection. They are responsible for a range of diseases including urinary tract infections, respiratory tract infections, septicemia, and endocarditis. S. marcescens is the most common Serratia species in human infection, with S. plymuthica, S. liquefaciens, S. rubidaea, and S. odorifera also being implicated.

Treatment

Treatment of Serratia infections can be challenging due to the organism's natural resistance to many antibiotics including ampicillin, macrolides, and first-generation cephalosporins. However, most Serratia species are susceptible to aminoglycosides, third-generation cephalosporins, and quinolones.

Epidemiology

Serratia species are found in many environments including water, soil, plants, and animals. They have also been found in man-made environments such as hospitals, where they can cause outbreaks of infection.

See also

• List of bacterial genera named after personal names
• Enterobacteriaceae
• Prodigiosin
• Serratia marcescens

References

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  Serratia marcescens 01