Nosocomial Outbreak of<i>Serratia Marcescens</i>in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit

Abstract

S. marcescens can cause rapidly spreading outbreaks associated with fatal infections in NICUs. With aggressive infection control measures, such outbreaks can be stopped at an early stage. Affected neonates themselves may well be the source of cross-infection to other patients on the ward. Antibiotic treatment of mothers should be reevaluated to avoid unnecessary exposure to antibiotics with the potential of over-growth of resistant organisms.