ABSTRACT
Objective To study the clinical characteristics of neonatal Serratia marcescens sepsis.Method A retrospective review of perinatal factors,clinical manifestations,laboratory findings,treatment and prognosis of Serratia marcescens sepsis in our unit from January 2012 to November 2017.Result A total of 21 cases of serratia marcescens sepsis were identified (diagnosed),all except one were prematurely born.Infection occurred on different days after birth,2 within 3 days,1 within 3 ～ 7 days and 9 in the second week,and the remainder,after 14 days.The clinical manifestations of neonatal Serratia marcescens sepsis were uncharacteristic,mainly manifested as gray pallor,lethargy,and recurrent apnea.Some infants had complications such as pulmonary hemorrhage,septic shock,necrotizing enterocolitis and scleroderma.Most infants had low white blood cell count,thrombocytopenia and high C-reactive protein at the onset of illness.All Serratia marcescens cases were sensitive to piperacillin/tazobactam,ceftazidime and meropenen.In total,17 cases had lumbar puncture,5 of them diagnosed with meningitis,with elevation of cerebrospinal fluid white blood cell count and protein,and 3 infants complicated with brain abscess.The duration of antibiotic therapy were 14 days or more depending on the clinical conditions.The overall mortality was 14.3％.Conclusion Serratia marcescens is an important opportunistic pathogen.It might cause serious infections in the premature infants including sepsis,brain abscess and meningitis.Regular neuro-imagings might be necessary for all sepsis infants.The infected and colonized neonates might be the hidden source of Serratia marcescens.The surveillance protocols,eradication of colonization,and strict adherence to hand disinfection/washing might help to prevent dissemination of invasive bacteria among premature infants.