Serratia Marcescens Treatment
A Serratia marcescens infection requires aggressive antibiotic treatment. Unfortunately, the Serratia marcescens bacteria have several concerning characteristics that make treatment difficult. These characteristics include a unique membrane as a Gram-negative bacteria, the ability to survive in aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and the motility of the bacteria. Serratia marcescens is therefore resistant to many antibiotics traditionally used to treat bacterial infections, such as penicillin and ampicillin (a moderate spectrum penicillin). As well, individual strains of Serratia marcescens have the ability to build immunities to previously effective antibiotics.
The difficulties presented by Serratia marcescens have led to the use of combined antibiotic therapy to treat the bacteria. Typical treatment for Serratia marcescens infection should include the use of an aminoglycoside, an antibiotic derived from bacteria from the Strepomyces genus. Aminoglycosides restrict the bacteria’s ability to synthesize protein, and thus the bacteria’s ability to grow and spread. Aminoglycosides are primarily utilized in treatment of Gram-negative aerobic bacteria, but are not generally effective against anaerobic bacteria. A common aminoglycoside used to treat Serratia marcescens is Amikacin (aka Amikin), which is given by intravenous transmission daily. Amikacin is not designed for long-term use, as such use has been associated with renal failure. Most strains of Serratia marcescens are susceptible to Amikacin, but Serratia’s ability to resist formerly effective drugs may make Amikacin treatment ineffective in certain strains of bacteria. Ciprofloxacin (a synthetic antibiotic) may provide an alternative to Amikacin and aminoglycosides if the Serratia appears resistant to aminoglycosides.
Aminoglycoside treatment for Serratia marcescens is usually combined with an antipseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotic. Beta-lactam antibiotics kill bacteria by inhibiting bacteria cellular wall synthesis and are effective against Gram-positive and some Gram-negative bacteria. Antipseudomonal beta-lactam antibiotics have been developed and used to kill pseudomonas (a similar bacterial infection), but have also proven effective against Serratia marcescens. Examples of effective antipseudomonal beta-lactams may include Meropenem and Imipenem.
Because of Serratia marcescens’ ability to develop immunities to antibiotics, susceptibility testing should be completed to determine the exact course of treatment and particular antibiotics effectiveness. Most antibiotic treatments will last from a few days to a couple of weeks. It is imperative that complete effectiveness of the antibiotic treatment is verified prior to discontinuation of the antibiotics as Serratia marcescens can multiply quickly and continue to infect previously treated patients. In rare cases of advanced infection, surgery can be necessary to remove an infected organ or body part.
Please Note
The treatments for Serratia related illnesses vary greatly depending on the specific disease caused by Serratia marcescens, and specific information on treatment for the particular disease should be consulted. This section focuses on the treatment and removal of the Serratia marcescens bacterial infection itself.
Contaminated Syringe Lawsuits
If you or a loved one have suffered an injury and contracted the Serratia marcescens bacteria after using Sierra Heparin Lock Flush Solution syringes, then you should contact us immediately to talk to a Board Certified Personal Injury Trial Lawyer, certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Nationwide Assistance is available and our consultation is free and confidential. Write us online or call us: Toll Free 1-800-883-9858.
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