Serratia marcescens
Serratia marcescens
''Serratia marcescens'' is a species of rod-shaped, Gram-negative bacteria in the family Yersiniaceae. It is a facultative anaerobe and an opportunistic pathogen. It was discovered in 1819 by Bartolomeo Bizio in Padua, Italy. ''S. marcescens'' is commonly involved in hospital-acquired infections , particularly catheter-associated bacteremia, urinary tract infections, and wound infections, and is responsible for 1.4% of HAI cases in the United States. It is commonly found in the respiratory and urinary tracts of hospitalized adults and in the gastrointestinal systems of children.
Due to its abundant presence in the environment, and its preference for damp conditions, ''S. marcescens'' is commonly found growing in bathrooms , where it manifests as a pink, pink-orange, or orange discoloration and slimy film feeding off phosphorus-containing materials or fatty substances such as soap and shampoo residue.
Once established, complete eradication of the organism is often difficult, but can be accomplished by application of a bleach-based disinfectant. Rinsing and drying surfaces after use can also prevent the establishment of the bacterium by removing its food source and making the environment less hospitable.
''S. marcescens'' may also be found in environments such as dirt, supposedly "sterile" places , and the subgingival biofilm of teeth. Due to this, and because ''S. marcescens'' produces a reddish-orange tripyrrole pigment called prodigiosin, it may cause staining of the teeth. The biochemical pathway for the production of prodigiosin by ''S. marcescens'' has been characterized by analyzing what intermediates become accumulated in specific mutants.
Due to its abundant presence in the environment, and its preference for damp conditions, ''S. marcescens'' is commonly found growing in bathrooms , where it manifests as a pink, pink-orange, or orange discoloration and slimy film feeding off phosphorus-containing materials or fatty substances such as soap and shampoo residue.
Once established, complete eradication of the organism is often difficult, but can be accomplished by application of a bleach-based disinfectant. Rinsing and drying surfaces after use can also prevent the establishment of the bacterium by removing its food source and making the environment less hospitable.
''S. marcescens'' may also be found in environments such as dirt, supposedly "sterile" places , and the subgingival biofilm of teeth. Due to this, and because ''S. marcescens'' produces a reddish-orange tripyrrole pigment called prodigiosin, it may cause staining of the teeth. The biochemical pathway for the production of prodigiosin by ''S. marcescens'' has been characterized by analyzing what intermediates become accumulated in specific mutants.