ABSTRACT
This chapter provides state-of-the-art overviews on foodborne diseases caused by Serratia in relation to their etiology, biology, epidemiology, clinical presentation, pathogenesis, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. All Serratia spp. are considered intrinsically resistant to ampicillin, macrolides, and first-generation cephalosporins, such as cephalexin. Community-associated infections related to a common environmental exposure are also recognized and documented. Case series of nosocomial eye infections have been mainly described in neonates and children, in those with posttraumatic ocular infections, and in contact lens wearers. The diagnosis of Serratia infection is confirmed by timely identification of the organism from affected sites or organs. If remote and occult infection like endophthalmitis is suspected, appropriate vitreous cultures should be collected for diagnosis and susceptibility testing; blood cultures should also be collected to evaluate if the mechanism was hematogenous seeding. The strains can become endemic within the health-care population and usually develop resistance to multiple antimicrobials.
