Hi Cheryl- This bacterial infection is often acquired by people who have been in the hospital for something else.
It's an opportunistic pathogen implicated in many hospital-acquired infections including meningitis, bacteremia, peritonitis; infections of postoperative wounds, eyes, skin, arterial line, catheter site, the respiratory tract, and the urinary tract.
Does this sound like your Dad?
Many outbreaks in hospital wards and intensive care units have been reported.
These were linked to mechanical ventilators, respiratory components, other hospital equipment and hospital personnel.
Some of the underlying medical conditions associated with Serratia infections include malignancy, renal failure, diabetes mellitus, respiratory distress syndrome, bronchopneumonia, cardiovascular surgery and congenital heart problems.
It's a tough bacteria...often resistant to the more "popular" antibiotics...But the fact that the doctors have specifically identied it, is good, so now they know eactly the best antibiotic to use for him.
Hope this helps...
zuzu xx
[This message has been edited by zuzu8 (edited 06-24-2003).]
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serratia marcescens 
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