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PubMed1966

Effect of 3 percent hydrogen peroxide on the viability of Serratia marcescens.

Campbell, Jack E. (University of California, Berkeley), and R. L. Dimmick. Effect of 3% hydrogen peroxide on the viability of Serratia marcescens. J. Bacteriol. 91:925-929. 1966.-Populations of Serratia marcescens were exposed to 3% H(2)O(2) at temperatures from 0 to 20 C. The reaction appeared to follow an Arrhenius plot, but variable numbers of diminutive colonies were found after cell numbers started to decrease. Colony numbers varied on different sampling media and increased when additional incubation was imposed. The overall reaction was sensitive to age of culture, and growth capabilities of treated samples varied with time of treatment, especially during times when no loss of viability was noted. Catalase activity per cell did not correlate with changes in sensitivity; iron added to growth medium increased catalase activity and decreased sensitivity, but not in the same manner. Although the fundamental reaction is presumably molecular in nature, present methods of viability assay measure more than single events and are not suitable for these studies.

Catalase↗
PubMed1966

Toxicity of copper and ascorbic acid to Serratia marcescens.

Zimmerman, Leonard (Fort Detrick, Frederick, Md.). Toxicity of copper and ascorbic acid to Serratia marcescens. J. Bacteriol. 91:1537-1542. 1966.-Neutral solutions of ascorbic acid were antibacterial to Serratia marcescens at low but not at high population densities. The toxicity of ascorbate was eliminated by metal-sequestering treatments, and was restored only by the addition of trace amounts of copper salts. Copper-ascorbate was equally toxic under aerobic or anaerobic conditions; its toxicity was abolished by (i) chelating agents that sequestered the copper, (ii) metal-complexing agents that bound to the cells but did not sequester copper, and (iii) iron salts in the presence of air. On the basis of these observations, the toxic effects of copper-ascorbate were attributed to its reaction with vital Fe-containing cellular components.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1969

Enzymes of tryptophan biosynthesis in Serratia marcescens.

In Serratia marcescens, the tryptophan biosynthetic enzymes were formed coordinately. A number of tryptophan auxotrophs showed single biochemical lesions; several mutants showed pleiotropic effects. Sucrose density gradient centrifugation revealed an unique pattern of migration of the tryptophan biosynthetic enzymes. The repression response of the Serratia enzymes to exogenous tryptophan was fivefold more sensitive than that found in Escherichia coli. When this information is contrasted with the available information on the other Enterobacteriaceae, one is compelled to conclude that S. marcescens enjoys a rather marked evolutionary divergence from the other enteric organisms.

Enzyme Repression↗
PubMed1969

Properties and characteristics of a bacteriocin from Serratia marcescens.

A strain of Serratia marcescens was found to produce a bacteriocin that inhibits the growth of certain Escherichia coli strains. This inhibition was bacteriocidal rather than bacteriostatic and was not caused by a bacteriophage. Whereas the bacteriocin was inactive on the 7 Serratia strains tested, it killed 11 of the 20 E. coli strains tested for sensitivity. A relationship of the bacteriocin to a possible colicin cannot as yet be excluded, although E. coli mutants resistant to 1 or 2 of 15 different colicins remained sensitive to the bacteriocin. The bacteriocidal effect by the bacteriocin could be interrupted in a substantial fraction of the treated cell population by the addition of trypsin. The synthesis of the bacteriocin was inducible by ultraviolet light or by starvation for thymidine. Both procedures led to a similar increase in maximum bacteriocin titer relative to noninduced cultures.

Bacteriocins↗
PubMed1987

Epidemic septic arthritis caused by Serratia marcescens and associated with a benzalkonium chloride antiseptic.

During a 6-week period, 10 patients were admitted to a hospital for treatment of knee or shoulder joint infections due to Serratia species. Isolates from eight patients were identified as Serratia marcescens with identical biochemical characteristics and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. Before the onset of infections, all patients had been treated by two orthopedic surgeons who shared an office. Studies revealed that infections were associated with previous joint injections (P = 4.44 X 10(-5] of methylprednisolone and lidocaine. Environmental cultures revealed that a canister of cotton balls soaked in aqueous benzalkonium chloride and two multiple-dose vials of methylprednisolone previously used by office personnel were contaminated with the epidemic strain of S. marcescens. The canister may have served as a potential reservoir for contamination of sterile solutions and equipment used for joint injections, of skin at the injection site, and of hands of personnel. No further cases occurred after the use of aqueous benzalkonium chloride was discontinued.

Adult↗
PubMed1987

Epidemic outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection in a cardiac surgery unit.

Between 2 February and 16 April 1985, an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infection involving 10 male patients occurred in a cardiac surgery unit. All the patients had surgical wound infection, five also had osteomyelitis (four sternal, one costal), and another had peritonitis secondary to peritoneal dialysis. Three patients had concomitant bacteremia. All Serratia strains isolated produced a cherry-red pigment, and all had the same biochemical and antibiotic susceptibility pattern. An intensive search for the origin of the outbreak was initially unsuccessful, and it proved impossible to isolate S. marcescens from cultures of numerous samples taken from hospital personnel and from the environment. The fact that all patients were male and had been shaved for surgery by the same team of barbers led us to investigate the shaving procedures. We finally isolated a strain of pigmented S. marcescens, corresponding to that involved in the outbreak, from samples taken from the hands and equipment of the barbers. After suitable action had been taken, the epidemic terminated.

Barbering↗
PubMed1996

Adhesive properties and antibiotic resistance of Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia clinical isolates involved in nosocomial infections.

Intestinal colonization by Klebsiella, Enterobacter, and Serratia (KES) strains is a crucial step in the development of nosocomial infections. We studied the adhesive properties, antibiotic resistance, and involvement in colonization or infection of 103 KES clinical isolates: 30 Klebsiella pneumoniae (29%), 16 Klebsiella oxytoca (15%), 30 Enterobacter aerogenes (29%), 14 Enterobacter cloacae (14%), and 13 Serratia sp. (13%) isolates. Half of them were resistant to several antimicrobial agents, including aminoglycosides and beta-lactam antibiotics. A total of 27 of 30 K. pneumoniae isolates (90%) adhered to the human cell line Intestine-407 (Int-407), while none of the K. oxytoca or E. aerogenes isolates and only 2 of the E. cloacae isolates adhered. Three adhesive patterns were observed for K. pneumoniae: an aggregative adhesion in 57% of the isolates, a diffuse adhesion in only one isolate, and a new pattern, localized adhesion, in 30% of the isolates. While most of the sensitive strains adhered with the aggregative phenotype, the localized pattern was associated with resistant K. pneumoniae isolates producing the CAZ-5 beta-lactamase. Furthermore, 45% of such localized-adhesion isolates were involved in severe infections. The distributions of type 1 and type 3 fimbriae, enteroaggregative E. coli, and cf29, pap, and afa/Dr adhesin-encoding genes were determined by using specific DNA probes. No relationship was found between the adhesive pattern and the production of specific fimbriae, suggesting that several unrecognized adhesive factors are involved. Our study indicates that special adhesive properties associated with resistance to antimicrobial agents could account for the pathogenicity of certain nosocomial strains.

Adhesins, Bacterial↗
PubMed1978

Precipitate produced by Serratia marcescens on MacConkey agar: useful diagnostic test.

The production of a precipitate by Serratia marcescens on Oxoid MacConkey agar has proven useful as a laboratory diagnostic test. This phenomenon is specific for Serratia within the Enterobacteriaceae, although precipitate production is also given by Acinetobacter anitratus and some Pseudomonas, Alcaligenes, and Aeromonas species. Precipitate production seems to be specific for certain batches of MacConkey agar, and is probably related to a specific property of some batches of bile salts.

Agar↗
PubMed1983

Infection with netilmicin resistant Serratia marcescens in a special care baby unit.

An outbreak of colonisation and infection with a netilmicin resistant strain of Serratia marcescens occurred in a special care baby unit. S marcescens was isolated from a total of 13 babies; significant infection occurred in five, of whom two died. Epidemiological investigation failed to detect a common source but gastrointestinal colonisation of babies formed a prolonged and possibly important reservoir for infection. Containment proved difficult until the unit was closed to new admissions, and even then spread to a temporary unit ensued. O Serotyping and bacteriophage typing disclosed a single epidemic strain. This produced an aminoglycoside acetylating enzyme (AAC(6')) conferring resistance to netilmicin and tobramycin and moderate resistance to amikacin. Use of gentamicin resulted in the isolation of serratia with increased resistance to all aminoglycosides, and, similarly, increased resistance to third generation cephalosporins emerged with their use.

Acetyltransferases↗
PubMed1971

Evaluation of three methods using deoxyribonuclease production as a screening test for Serratia marcescens.

Deoxyribonuclease (DNase) produced by Serratia marcescens is a characteristic feature which is useful in distinguishing this organism from closely related members of the Enterobacteriaceae. In an assessment of three methods of performing the DNase test as a screening procedure for Serratia marcescens, the conclusion was reached that the standard test was most suitable for use in the clinical bacteriology laboratory.

Chemistry Techniques, Analytical↗
PubMed1971

Search for Serratia.

During a four-month period an intensive effort was made to isolate and identify every Serratia marcescens strain present in the clinical material received for bacteriological assessment in the laboratory. Ten strains were isolated from eight patients, the organism possibly being responsible for infection in five of these patients. Serratia marcescens is thus commoner than expected and it is difficult to explain the fact that there are so few references to it as a pathogen in the British literature.

Aged↗
PubMed1972

Hydrolysis of casein: a differential aid for the indentification of Serratia marcescens.

Through the hydrolysis of casein, a cultural characteristic has been established in the preliminary identification of Serratia marcescens. Compared against 438 strains of the families, Pseudomonadaceae and Enterobacteriaceae, this organism has a reproducible capability to decompose casein, while most other Gram-negative bacilli failed to produce any hydrolysis, or, at the most, hazy zones only. Routine use has shown this to be a valuable differential aid in the identification of Serratia marcescens.

Bacteriological Techniques↗
PubMed1994

Characterization and primary specificity of an extracellular metalloproteinase from Serratia marcescens.

An extracellular endopeptidase (proteinase) from Serratia marcescens (Serratia marcescens extracellular proteinase, EC 3.4.24.4), purified to homogeneity, was analyzed for enzyme properties. The enzyme has a polypeptide chain molecular mass of 52 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The enzyme has an optimal temperature of 40 degrees C and an optimal pH of 7.0. Enzyme activity was enhanced over two times by the addition of Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions and eliminated almost completely by the presence of 0.2% SDS. The enzyme has broad substrate specificity and contains neither cysteine nor methionine. Low homology was found between the NH2-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme of this study and the NH2-terminal sequence of a proteinase from another strain of S. marcescens. Chemical modification with N-bromosuccinimide, 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-carbodiimide, and 8-anilino-1-naphthalene sulfonic acid and by photooxidation with methylene blue reduced enzyme activity considerably. The enzyme was shown to have broad peptide bond specificity judging from the contribution of 11 amino acids to the carboxyl side of the peptide bonds hydrolyzed.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1980

Serratia pneumonia.

The clinical and radiological manifestations were correlated with the necropsy findings in the lungs of 18 patients who died of Serratia marcescens infection. Ten died during a hospital epidemic affecting 74 patients. In 14, only Serratia was identified at autopsy; in 4, other organisms were also cultured. Ten patients had septicemia. The predominant radiological findings were focal bronchopneumonia in 13, lobar consolidation in 2, and diffuse nonhomogeneous infiltrates in 10. Small radiolucent areas within the infiltrates were seen in 5, a large pulmonary abscess in 1, and pleural effusion in 7. The predominant pathological findings were focal necrotizing bronchopneumonia (sometimes with microscopic abscesses) in 14 and diffuse hemorrhage in 3. Three patients had endocarditis and 3 others showed dissemination to the brain or kidneys.

Bronchopneumonia↗
PubMed1980

Immune stimulation of lung bactericidal activity: evidence for both cellular and humoral participation after immunization with Serratia marcescens.

Mice were immunized by aerosol or by a parenteral route with Serratia marcescens, and subsequently challenged by aerosol with both Staphylococcus aureus and S. marcescens. After a single aerosol immunization, intrapulmonary bactericidal activity was initially enhanced against both organisms. Repetitive aerosol immunization caused the same initial response; however, after antistaphylococcal activity returned to normal, enhanced antiserratia activity was still demonstrable. Parenteral immunization was associated with increased in situ bactericidal activity against both organisms with more pronounced antiserratia activity. Intracellular bactericidal activity against S. aureus of lung phagocytes harvested from mice after aerosol immunization with serratia paralleled the above findings. Aerosol immunization also resulted in recruitment of polymorphonuclear leukocytes. These data suggested that macrophage activation, leukocyte recruitment, and local antibody are important contributing factors to heightened lung antibacterial activity after aerosol immunization with S. marcescens.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Serratia marcescens outbreak in a paediatric oncology unit traced to contaminated chlorhexidine.

Over an 18-month period we encountered 12 episodes of Serratia marcescens bacteraemia in 10 patients in a paediatric oncology unit. These were associated with long-term indwelling Hickman intravenous catheters (right atrial) and caused three deaths. Seven of the patients had only mild pyrexial illnesses and made a complete recovery. The source was traced to contaminated aqueous chlorhexidine in a bedside container in which plastic clamps were stored. When this was rectified the outbreak ceased. The identity of the causal Serratia strains was confirmed by plasmid analysis and they showed multiple antibiotic resistance, including the aminoglycosides. The study illustrates the emergence of S. marcescens as an opportunistic pathogen and emphasises the dangers of Hickman-associated bacteraemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1978

Serratia marcescens in human affairs.

Serratia marcescens, a ubiquitous, essentially saprophytic bacterium with a predilection for starches, has played a significant role in human affairs. Its notoriety has been occasioned by a blood-red pigment liberated by the organism during its metabolic activities that has been mistaken for fresh blood. In early Greek and Roman history, such "bloody" episodes were viewed as manifestations of divine destiny; by the Middle Ages in Europe they coincided with the development of church doctrine regarding the holy sacraments and had a far more sinister effect. In numerous instances between 1300 and 1500 A.D. host wafers developed a "bloody" appearance and led to the mass slaughter of Jews, who were accused of destructive attempts against the Eucharist. In our time, Serratia marcescens has been shown to possess significant endotoxic activity and can no longer be regarded as a harmless nuisance. It has been implicated in a wide range of human infections, particularly hospital-associated infections, of varying degrees of severity and including fatal antibiotic-resistant septicemias.

Bread↗