Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun Any of various red, rod-shaped bacteria of the genus Serratia, especially S. marcescens, that are found in the intestinal tract, are resistant to many antibiotics, and cause nosocomial and opportunistic infections such as wound infections and pneumonia as well as disease in coral reefs.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a genus of motile peritrichous bacteria that contain small Gram-negative rod

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[New Latin Serratia, genus name, after Serafino Serrati, Italian physicist who developed an early steamboat engine and operated the first steamboat on the Arno in 1787.]

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Examples

  • The company's flu vaccine, Fluvirin, was pulled from distribution due to an unspecified number of lots containing an extremely dangerous microorganism, serratia, which is precisely the kind of threat thimerosal is supposed to eliminate.

    Flu Vaccines - Open Season 2006

  • Only after the suspension was the nature of the contamination revealed: it was a type of bacteria called serratia, which, though found in the environment and usually not harmful there, can cause illness if injected into the body, especially in a frail elderly person or someone chronically ill.

    More on the flu vaccine scandal Mumon 2004

  • Only after the suspension was the nature of the contamination revealed: it was a type of bacteria called serratia, which, though found in the environment and usually not harmful there, can cause illness if injected into the body, especially in a frail elderly person or someone chronically ill.

    Archive 2004-10-01 Mumon 2004

  • Allen was diagnosed with an infection called serratia which led to bacterial spinal meningitis.

    unknown title 2009

  • Dr Williams added: "We would also expect a number of babies to be colonised with serratia marcescens, however, our trigger for screening is if a baby develops a bloodstream infection, which is why we have taken the precaution of isolating the colonised babies and creating a separate neonatal area for new admissions while we investigate the situation."

    BBC News - Home 2011

  • NHS Greater Glasgow said serratia marcescens colonisation was also identified in two babies at the Southern General's neonatal intensive care unit who had been transferred from the PRM neonatal unit.

    BBC News - Home 2011

  • A baby is in isolation at the Princess Royal while eight others are being monitored after testing positive for the serratia marcescens bacteria.

    BBC News - Home 2011

  • NHS Greater Glasgow said eight other children at the neonatal unit had also tested positive for serratia marcescens and were being monitored.

    BBC News - Home 2011

  • She said: "Eight other babies in the PRM neonatal unit have also been confirmed as being colonised with serratia marcescens."

    BBC News - Home 2011

  • All the babies in neonatal units at both hospital have been screened and it is understood that no further babies at the Southern General have been found to be colonised with serratia marcescens and the Unit was operating as normal.

    BBC News - Home 2011

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