[An epidemic caused by serratia marcescens in an intensive-care unit for premature and other newborns (author's transl)].

An epidemic caused by Serratia marcescens occurred in intensive care unit of the Children's clinic in Essen, with three deaths. Although there was good sensitivity of the strain to gentamicin in vitro, there was no noticeable clinical improvement when it was administered. But cotrimoxazole, given systemically and locally, and colistin locally cured the disease.