Skip to main content
NCBI home page
Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1981 Aug;14(2):157–160. doi: 10.1128/jcm.14.2.157-160.1981

Nosocomial transmission of Serratia marcescens in a veterinary hospital due to contamination by benzalkonium chloride.

J G Fox, C M Beaucage, C A Folta, G W Thornton
PMCID: PMC271926  PMID: 7024303

Abstract

During a 1-year period, Serratia marcescens was isolated from 50% of all contaminate intravenous catheters from dogs and cats in a large veterinary hospital. S. marcescens was also isolated from respiratory tracts, genitourinary tracts, skin, and other sites in hospitalized animals. A total of 55% of the clinical isolates and 66% of the intravenous catheter isolates had the same API biochemical profile. The source of the S. marcescens was determined to be aqueous benzalkonium chloride (0.025%) sponge pots located in the intensive care unit, surgery rooms, and outpatient clinic areas of the hospital. Of the 11 S. marcescens isolates submitted to the Centers for Disease Control for serotyping (6 from aqueous benzalkonium chloride sponge pots, 5 from intravenous catheters), 8 were identified as serotype O10:H11. All S. marcescens isolates tested for antibiotic susceptibilities were multiply resistant; isolates were most frequently resistant to streptomycin, cephalothin, and ampicillin. This study demonstrates that improper use of disinfectants plays an important role in the nosocomial transmission of S. marcescens.

Full text

PDF
157

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Ackerman L. J., Kishimoto R. A., Emerson J. S. Nonpigmented Serratia marcescens arthritis in a teju (Tupinambis teguixin). Am J Vet Res. 1971 May;32(5):823–826. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. Bauer A. W., Kirby W. M., Sherris J. C., Turck M. Antibiotic susceptibility testing by a standardized single disk method. Am J Clin Pathol. 1966 Apr;45(4):493–496. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  3. Boam G. W., Sanger V. L., Cowan D. F., Vaughan D. P. Subcutaneous abscesses in iguanid lizards. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1970 Sep 1;157(5):617–619. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  4. Cardos S. F., Florman A. L., Simberkoff M. S., Lanier L. Serratia marcescens: use of detailed characterization of strains to evaluate an increase of isolates in an intensive care unit. Am J Med Sci. 1973 Dec;266(6):447–452. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  5. Dixon R. E., Kaslow R. A., Mackel D. C., Fulkerson C. C., Mallison G. F. Aqueous quaternary ammonium antiseptics and disinfectants. Use and misuse. JAMA. 1976 Nov 22;236(21):2415–2417. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  6. Farmer J. J., 3rd, Davis B. R., Hickman F. W., Presley D. B., Bodey G. P., Negut M., Bobo R. A. Detection of Serratia outbreaks in hospital. Lancet. 1976 Aug 28;2(7983):455–459. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(76)92539-3. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  7. KUNDSIN R. B., WALTER C. W. Investigations on adsorption of benzalkonium chloride U.S.P. by skin, gloves, and sponges. AMA Arch Surg. 1957 Dec;75(6):1036–1042. doi: 10.1001/archsurg.1957.01280180168027. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  8. LEE J. C., FIALKOW P. J. Benzalkonium chloride-source of hospital infection with gram-negative bacteria. JAMA. 1961 Sep 9;177:708–710. doi: 10.1001/jama.1961.73040360013012a. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  9. MALIZIA W. F., GANGAROSA E. J., GOLEY A. F. Benzalkonium chloride as a source of infection. N Engl J Med. 1960 Oct 20;263:800–802. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196010202631608. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  10. Maki D. G., Hennekens C. G., Phillips C. W., Shaw W. V., Bennett J. V. Nosocomial urinary tract infection with Serratia marcescens: an epidemiologic study. J Infect Dis. 1973 Nov;128(5):579–587. doi: 10.1093/infdis/128.5.579. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  11. McCormack R. C., Kunin C. M. Control of a single source nursery epidemic due to Serratia marcescens. Pediatrics. 1966 May;37(5):750–755. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  12. PLOTKIN S. A., AUSTRIAN R. Bacteremia caused by Pseudomonas sp. following the use of materials stored in solutions of a cationic surface-active agent. Am J Med Sci. 1958 Jun;235(6):621–627. doi: 10.1097/00000441-195806000-00001. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  13. Quintiliani R., Gifford R. H. Endocarditis from Serratia marcescens. JAMA. 1969 Jun 16;208(11):2055–2059. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  14. Ramsdell C. M., Northup J. D. Serratia arthritis: report of three cases. South Med J. 1973 Aug;66(8):889–891. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  15. Rubin S. J., Brock S., Chamberland M., Lyons R. W. Combined serotyping and biotyping of Serratia marcescens. J Clin Microbiol. 1976 Jun;3(6):582–585. doi: 10.1128/jcm.3.6.582-585.1976. [DOI] [PMC free article] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  16. SHICKMAN M. D., GUZE L. B., PEARCE M. L. Bacteremia following cardiac catheterization; report of a case and studies on the source. N Engl J Med. 1959 Jun 4;260(23):1164–1166. doi: 10.1056/NEJM195906042602304. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  17. Sanders C. V., Jr, Luby J. P., Johanson W. G., Jr, Barnett J. A., Sanford J. P. Serratia marcescens infections from inhalation therapy medications: nosocomial outbreak. Ann Intern Med. 1970 Jul;73(1):15–21. doi: 10.7326/0003-4819-73-1-15. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  18. Schaberg D. R., Alford R. H., Anderson R., Farmer J. J., 3rd, Melly M. A., Schaffner W. An outbreak of nosocomial infection due to multiply resistant Serratia marcescens: evidence of interhospital spread. J Infect Dis. 1976 Aug;134(2):181–188. doi: 10.1093/infdis/134.2.181. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  19. Stamm W. E., Kolff C. A., Dones E. M., Javariz R., Anderson R. L., Farmer J. J., 3rd, de Quinones H. R. A nursery outbreak caused by Serratia marcescens--scalp-vein needles as a portal of entry. J Pediatr. 1976 Jul;89(1):96–99. doi: 10.1016/s0022-3476(76)80940-7. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  20. WATANABE T. SELECTED METHODS OF GENETIC STUDY OF EPISOME-MEDIATED DRUG RESISTANCE IN BACTERIA. Methods Med Res. 1964;10:202–220. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  21. Walton J. R., Shapiro B. A., Harrison R. A., Davidson R., Reisberg B. E. Serratia bacteremia from mean arterial pressure monitors. Anesthesiology. 1975 Jul;43(1):113–114. doi: 10.1097/00000542-197507000-00027. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  22. Wijewanta E. A., Fernando M. Infection in goats owing to Serratia marcescens. Vet Rec. 1970 Sep 5;87(10):282–284. doi: 10.1136/vr.87.10.282. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  23. Wilfert J. N., Barrett F. F., Kass E. H. Bacteremia due to serratia marcescens. N Engl J Med. 1968 Aug 8;279(6):286–289. doi: 10.1056/NEJM196808082790604. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  24. Wilkins R. J. Serratia marcescens septicaemia in the dog. J Small Anim Pract. 1973 Apr;14(4):205–215. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-5827.1973.tb06918.x. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES