Serratia spp.
Serratia spp.
MATERIAL SAFETY DATA SHEET – INFECTIOUS SUBSTANCES
SECTION I – INFECTIOUS AGENT
NAME: Serratia spp.
SYNONYM OR CROSS REFERENCE: S. marcescens, S. liquefaciens, S. odorifera, S. rubidaea, S. ficaria, S. fonticola, S. marinorubra, S. plymuthica
CHARACTERISTICS: Family Enterobacteriaceae, gram negative bacilli, non-spore forming, facultatively anaerobic, motile with peritrichous flagella, sometimes capsulated, some species produce pink or red pigments
SECTION II – HEALTH HAZARD
PATHOGENICITY: Opportunistic infections of the endocardium, eyes, blood, wounds, urinary and respiratory tracts; infections are often severe or fatal; Notorious nosocomial pathogens, particularly S. marcescens which is responsible for 4% of hospital acquired pneumonias; Serious reactions have occurred to blood transfusions contaminated with S. liquefaciens; causes ocular complications associated with contact lenses
EPIDEMIOLOGY: Worldwide; isolated with increasing frequency probably due to nosocomial spread; important nosocomial infection causing outbreaks in nurseries, intensive-care units and renal dialysis units
HOST RANGE: Humans
INFECTIOUS DOSE: Not known
MODE OF TRANSMISSION: Direct contact of the mucous membranes to infectious agents, transferred by contaminated persons, medical devices, intravenous fluids or other solutions; contact with contaminated respiratory therapy devices has resulted in numerous nosocomial infections
INCUBATION PERIOD: Not clearly identified
COMMUNICABILITY: Not directly transmitted from person-to-person
SECTION III – DISSEMINATION
RESERVOIR: Ubiquitous, occur in plants, soil and water
ZOONOSIS: None
VECTORS: None
SECTION IV – VIABILITY
DRUG SUSCEPTIBILITY: Variable susceptibility to antimicrobial drugs; sensitive to aminoglycosides (amikacin); intrinsically resistant to penicillin G, colistin and cephalothin; multi-drug resistant strains are common including resistance to imipenem; many strains are initially susceptible to cephalosporins and aminocyclinols, but develop resistance during therapy
SUSCEPTIBILITY TO DISINFECTANTS: Susceptible to many disinfectants – 1% sodium hypochlorite, 70% ethanol, 2% glutaraldehyde, iodines, phenolics, formaldehyde; Strains have been recovered with resistance to quaternary ammonium compounds and chlorhexidine; nosocomial infections have been associated with non-medicated hand soap
PHYSICAL INACTIVATION: Sensitive to moist heat (121° C for at least 15 min) and dry heat (160-170° C for at least 1 hour)
SURVIVAL OUTSIDE HOST: dust – up to 35 days; glass – 4 to 9 days; beetle – 30 to 35 days; sheet metal – 5 days; paper – 5 days; skin – 30 min; silk threads – up to 72 days
SECTION V – MEDICAL
SURVEILLANCE: Careful evaluation of clinical course
FIRST AID/TREATMENT: Determine antibiotic susceptibility followed by antibiotic therapy; surgical drainage of wounds or abscesses
IMMUNIZATION: None
PROPHYLAXIS: Not usually administered
SECTION VI – LABORATORY HAZARDS
LABORATORY-ACQUIRED INFECTIONS: At least 5 reported laboratory infections with S. marcescens (formerly used as a marker in aerobiology)
SOURCES/SPECIMENS: Feces, wound exudates, respiratory specimens, blood, urine
PRIMARY HAZARDS: Accidental parenteral inoculation; direct contact of mucous membranes with infectious materials; inhalation of infectious droplets; ingestion
SPECIAL HAZARDS: None
SECTION VII – RECOMMENDED PRECAUTIONS
CONTAINMENT REQUIREMENTS: Biosafety level 2 practices, containment equipment and facilities are recommended for activities involving infectious clinical materials and cultures of S. marcescens and S. liquifaciens
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING: Laboratory coat; gloves when direct contact with infectious materials is unavoidable
OTHER PRECAUTIONS: None
SECTION VIII – HANDLING INFORMATION
SPILLS: Allow aerosols to settle; wearing protective clothing, gently cover spill with paper towel and apply 1% sodium hypochlorite; starting at perimeter and working towards the centre; allow sufficient contact time (30 min) before clean up
DISPOSAL: Decontaminate before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection, incineration
STORAGE: In sealed containers that are appropriately labelled
SECTION IX – MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Date prepared: March, 2001
Prepared by: Office of Laboratory Security, PHAC
Although the information, opinions and recommendations contained in this Material Safety Data Sheet are compiled from sources believed to be reliable, we accept no responsibility for the accuracy, sufficiency, or reliability or for any loss or injury resulting from the use of the information. Newly discovered hazards are frequent and this information may not be completely up to date.
Copyright © Health Canada, 2001
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