Abstract |
One hundred forty nosocomial Serratia marcescens infections (including 76 cases of bacteremia) were identified by prospective surveillance from 1975 through 1977 and retrospective chart review from 1968 through 1974. Thirty-four cases (24 per cent) involved gentamicin-resistant strains. All gentamicin-resistant strains appeared after 1974. Ninety per cent of the patients had undergone surgery, and 88 per cent had received prior antimicrobial therapy. The emergence of gentamicin-resistant S. marcescens paralleled the increase in usage of gentamicin. Prior use of gentamicin for more than two days in an individual patient was a significant risk factor (P = 0.0002) for being infected with a Serratia that was gentamicin-resistant. Other factors which separated gentamicin-resistant Serratia infections from gentamicin-sensitive Serratia infections were (1) urinary site of infection (P = 0.0005), (2) urinary catheter (P = 0.002), (3) endotracheal tube or tracheotomy (P = 0.03) and (4) increasing duration of hospitalization (P less than 0.05). Thirty-three of 34 (97 per cent) patients with gentamicin-resistant strains had urinary catheters. Specific measures to control infection were effective in decreasing the incidence of infections caused by gentamicin-resistant Serratia.
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Authors | V L Yu, C A Oakes, K J Axnick, T C Merigan |
Journal | The American journal of medicine
(Am J Med)
Vol. 66
Issue 3
Pg. 468-72
(Mar 1979)
ISSN: 0002-9343 [Print] United States |
PMID | 373434
(Publication Type: Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
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Topics |
- Adolescent
- Adult
- Aged
- California
- Child
- Child, Preschool
- Cross Infection
(etiology, microbiology)
- Drug Resistance, Microbial
- Enterobacteriaceae Infections
(etiology, microbiology)
- Female
- Gentamicins
(therapeutic use)
- Humans
- Infant
- Intubation, Gastrointestinal
(adverse effects)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Sepsis
(etiology, microbiology)
- Serratia marcescens
(drug effects)
- Urinary Catheterization
(adverse effects)
- Urinary Tract Infections
(etiology, microbiology)
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