Microbiologic and Clinical Epidemiologic Characteristics of the Chicago Subset of a Multistate Outbreak of Serratia marcescens Bacteremia

We describe 22 patients from a multistate outbreak of Serratia marcescens bacteremia that was linked to contaminated prefilled syringes of heparin and saline supplied by 1 manufacturer. Contents of unused syringes were cultured in pools; samples from 25 (5.3%) of 472 syringes grew S. marcescens. Despite good clinical outcomes overall, patients had substantial morbidity. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2010; 31(11): 1191-1193