AN OUTBREAK OF SERRATIA MARCESCENS AT A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL OF BANGLADESH

*Dr Sanjida Khondakar Setu and Dr Abu Naser Ibne Sattar

ABSTRACT

Background: Serratia marcescens represents an important pathogen involved in hospital acquired infections. Outbreaks are frequently reported and are difficult to eradicate. The aim of this study is to describe an outbreak of Serratia marcescens in a neonatal intensive care unit during early 2022. Methods: Following an abrupt increase in the isolation of Serratia marcescens from blood culture sample of NICU patients. extensive environmental sample, various clinical consumables and hand swab of the staff were screen for contamination of Serratia marcescens. Antimicrobial susceptibility of isolates were carried out by VITEK® 2 automated culture system. Effective hand hygiene measures were implemented. Infected babies were insulated. Results: A total of 17 newborns from NICU were studied. Blood culture and sensitivity were performed in all cases. Five Serratia marcescens isolates were collected from blood sample. Environmental and hand sampling resulted negative. All isolates were resistant to colistin. In our study, the average weight was 2434 g and forty percent population required artificial ventilation. The outcome was fatal in 40.0% cases. Conclusions: S. marcescens outbreak represents a serious challenge in NICU. Frequently, reservoirs of infection were not identified. However, extensive surveillance procedures are essential to control the outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit.

Keywords: Serratia marcescens, Outbreak, Neonatal intensive care unit, Colistin.