Study of the role of sink drains during Serratia marcescens outbreaks in a NICU

Serratia marcescens is an important opportunistic human pathogen thrives in many environments, multidrug resistant and often involved in outbreaks of nosocomial infections in neonatal intensive care unit. Here, we evaluate the role of sinks during five S. marcescens outbreaks in a neonatal intensive care unit. An innovative approach combining molecular and culture methods was used to maximize the detection and typing of S. marcescens in the sink environment. Our results suggest multiple reservoirs of S. marcescens within the NICU, including patients, sink drains, and external sources. These results highlight the importance of sinks as a major reservoir of S. marcescens and potential sources of future outbreaks.