Is serratia marcescens harmful to babies?

Understanding Serratia marcescens and Its Impact on Infants
Serratia marcescens, a gram-negative bacterium, is often found in various environments, including soil and water. While it is commonly associated with nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections, its implications for vulnerable populations, particularly infants, warrant careful examination.
The Nature of Serratia marcescens
This bacterium is known for its resilience, thriving in inhospitable conditions such as those found in hospitals. It can colonize surfaces and medical equipment, making it a potential threat in healthcare settings. Although many strains of Serratia marcescens are harmless, certain strains can lead to infections, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, including newborns.
Risks to Infants
Recent reports indicate that Serratia marcescens has been linked to outbreaks in neonatal units. For instance, a study highlighted that during a 15-month period, 732 babies were admitted to a neonatal unit, with 153 testing positive for the bacterium. Of these, 34 developed clinical infections, with a significant portion classified as major infections, which were associated with high morbidity and mortality rates.
However, it is crucial to differentiate between colonization and infection. Colonization refers to the presence of bacteria without causing harm, which has been observed in some infants without any adverse effects. This distinction is vital, as not all babies who carry the bacteria will experience illness.
Clinical Implications
The clinical implications of Serratia marcescens infections in infants can be severe. Infections can lead to conditions such as bacteremia, which is a serious bloodstream infection. The risk factors for severe outcomes include the infant’s overall health, gestational age, and the presence of other medical conditions.
Healthcare providers remain vigilant in monitoring for signs of infection in newborns, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) where the risk of exposure is heightened. Infection control measures are critical in these settings to prevent outbreaks and protect vulnerable infants.
Conclusion
In summary, while Serratia marcescens can pose a risk to infants, particularly those in hospital settings, not all cases lead to harmful infections. The bacterium’s ability to colonize without causing disease is a significant factor in understanding its impact. Ongoing vigilance and effective infection control practices are essential to safeguard the health of newborns, particularly in high-risk environments like NICUs.

Can Serratia marcescens cause miscarriage?

This pathogen can be responsible for nosocomial infection, mostly in immunocompromised hosts, and serratia septicaemia is a rare but dire disease in pregnancy. S. marcescens was reported as a cause of persistent chorioamnionitis and subsequent miscarriage in only three non-immunocompromised hosts.

Can you breastfeed with Serratia marcescens?

Although, there are no clear recommendations for women with S. marcescens colonization, and due to high risk of sepsis associated with this bacteria, treatment with antibiotics is highly recommended. Returning to breastfeeding is safe after cultures of both the mother and the baby are negative.

Is it safe for my baby to drink pink breast milk?

A small amount of maternal blood mixed in breastmilk can turn it into pink milk/strawberry milk. It is usually not harmful for the baby and it is not uncommon for mothers to encounter minor bleeding or blood tinged milk during breastfeeding/pumping. This can happen for multiple reasons.

What happens if Serratia marcescens is left untreated?

Serratia marcescens infections can lead to severe and sometimes life-threatening conditions. For example, the bacterium in neonatal units can cause meningitis, septicemia, and respiratory infections. Serratia marcescens is a common cause of hospital-acquired infections in patients and healthcare workers.

What are the symptoms of Serratia marcescens in infants?

S. marcescens gives rise to a wide range of clinical manifestations in newborns: from asymptomatic colonization to keratitis, conjunctivitis, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, surgical wound infections, sepsis, bloodstream infection and meningitis [6,7].

What does Serratia marcescens cause in breast milk?

S. marcescens is a gram-negative bacillus in the Enterobacteriaceae family. Several outbreaks have been linked to contaminated medical equipment, improper hand hygiene by health care workers and breast milk.

What is the red diaper syndrome?

Red diaper syndrome is an infection by Serratia marcescens bacteria that causes a baby’s diaper as well as nursing pads and breast pumps to turn pink or red. Absent signs of clinical infection, it is safe to continue breastfeeding.

Should I be worried Serratia marcescens?

More recently, Serratia marcescens has been found to be pathogenic to a small percentage of people, having been identified as a cause of urinary tract infections, wound infections, and pneumonia in hospital environments.

What bacteria is associated with miscarriage?

The majority of studies have demonstrated that the dominant species of the vaginal and uterine microbiome in patients with early miscarriages are non‐Lactobacillus bacteria.

How do you treat Serratia marcescens in baby bottles?

S. marcescens can rapidly growth in reconstituted, non-finished milk formula and produce pink pigmentation. Sanitisation of bottles in hot water at 70 °C or higher for 1 min will eliminate S. marcescens.