[Serratia marcescens and neonatal sepsis].

Authors review infections produced by Serratia marcescens which arose in our neonatal unit from 1982 to 1984, both inclusive. From a total of 4.353 newborns admitted, Serratia marcescens was isolated in 51 newborns; 26 of them exhibited a clinical picture of sepsis, remaining 25 being considered as contaminated. By comparing various characteristics of the contaminated and septic newborns, no difference was found related to sex, gestational age, prenatal pathology, type of delivery, Apgar score, birth-weight or time of diagnosis. Only difference between both groups was severity of intercurrent process and consequently, whether or not were they subject to previous antibiotic treatment and invasive therapeutic maneuvers. Authors conclude that perinatal factors seem to be not so important, as far as supporting a disseminated infection by this organism in concerned, in contrast to former observation by the others authors.