Secondary infection of chylothorax with Serratia marcescens: a rare scenario post-cardiac surgery.

Infection of chylothorax is considered rare because chyle is inherently bacteriostatic. We report a case of an infected chylothorax occurring in a post-cardiac surgery patient caused by Serratia marcescens. Once considered a harmless saprophyte, Serratia marcescens is now recognized as an important opportunistic pathogen causing healthcare-associated infection with a propensity for antimicrobial resistance.