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Chong, Yi, and Lee: Biochemical Characteristics and Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Serratia marcescens Isolated from Clinical Specimens
Original Article
Yonsei Medical Journal

Yonsei Medical Journal 1978; 19(1): 32-38.

Published online: 20 February 2002

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3349/ymj.1978.19.1.32

Biochemical Characteristics and Antibiotic Susceptibilities of Serratia marcescens Isolated from Clinical Specimens

Yunsop Chong, Kui Nyung Yi, Samuel Y. Lee

Department of Clinical Pathology, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.

Received 15 February 1978

Copyright © 1978 The Yonsei University College of Medicine

Abstract

A minimal test scheme, consisting of deoxyribonuclease (DNase) and tween 80 hydrolysis (TEH) together with a few other biochemical tests, was used to make tentative identification of Serratia marcescens from clinical specimens. The identifications were reevaluated by testing comprehensive biochemical characteristics of 52 isolates, and all were found to be correct.
The biochemical reactions of the isolates were very homogenous, showing typical characteristics of the species except in the urease test and acid production from sucrose, adonitol and inositol. These facts support the feasibility of the use of the minimal identification scheme.
Pigment production was noted only in 7 isolates invalidating the value of this characteristic for the identification.
Fifty-seven isolates were tested for their antibiotic susceptibility. They were found most frequently susceptible to gentamicin (47.4%), chloramphenicol (35.0%) and kanamycin (28.1%). Many isolates (49.1%) were multiply resistant to ampicillin, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, streptomycin and tetracycline.

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