ABSTRACT
Serratia is a gram-negative, encapsulated, motile, anaerobic, nonsporulating bacillus. 1 Currently, 14 species of Serratia are recognized within the genus, eight of which are associated with human infection. 2 Of those, S. marcescens, S. liquefaciens, and S. odorifera are the best known. However, S. marcescens is the most common clinical isolate and the most important human pathogen. 2 Once considered a harmless saprophyte, Serratia is now recognized as an important opportunistic pathogen with a propensity for both health care–associated infection and antimicrobial resistance and an important source of outbreaks of hospital infection in both adult and pediatric patients.
