Serratia marcescens Outbreak at a Correctional Facility: Environmental Sampling, Laboratory Analyses and Genomic Characterization to Assess Sources and Persistence

Donna Ferguson (), Rahil Ryder, Rawni Lunsford, Arie Dash, Amanda Kamali, Akiko Kimura, John Crandall, Rituparna Mukhopadhyay, Heather Dowless, Nancy Ortiz and Nathaniel K. Jue ()
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Donna Ferguson: Public Health Laboratory, County of Monterey Health Department, Salinas, CA 93906, USA
Rahil Ryder: Public Health Laboratory, County of Monterey Health Department, Salinas, CA 93906, USA
Rawni Lunsford: Public Health Laboratory, County of Monterey Health Department, Salinas, CA 93906, USA
Arie Dash: Public Health Laboratory, County of Monterey Health Department, Salinas, CA 93906, USA
Amanda Kamali: Public Health, Medical Services Division, California Correctional Health Care Services, Elk Grove, CA 95758, USA
Akiko Kimura: Infectious Diseases Branch, Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
John Crandall: Microbial Diseases Laboratory Branch, Center for Laboratory Sciences, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
Rituparna Mukhopadhyay: Microbial Diseases Laboratory Branch, Center for Laboratory Sciences, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
Heather Dowless: Public Health, Medical Services Division, California Correctional Health Care Services, Elk Grove, CA 95758, USA
Nancy Ortiz: Infectious Diseases Branch, Center for Infectious Diseases, California Department of Public Health, Richmond, CA 94804, USA
Nathaniel K. Jue: Department of Biology and Chemistry, California State University, Monterey Bay, Seaside, CA 93955, USA

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 20, issue 17, 1-17

Abstract: Serratia marcescens is an environmental bacterium and clinical pathogen that can cause an array of infections. We describe an environmental sampling and comparative genomics approach used to investigate a multi-year outbreak of S. marcescens at a correctional facility. Whole genome sequencing analysis revealed a predominant cluster of clonally related S. marcescens from nine patient cases and items associated with illicit drug use. Closely related strains found among items associated with case-patient cells and diluted Cell Block 64 (CB64), a quaternary ammonium disinfectant, and Break Out (BO), a multipurpose cleaner, highlighted their role as environmental reservoirs for S. marcescens in this outbreak. Comparative genomic analysis suggested outbreak strains were both persistent (identical strains found over long periods and in multiple locations of the correctional facility) and diverse (strains clustered with multiple global samples from NCBI database). No correlation was found between antimicrobial resistance (AMR) genes of outbreak strains; NCBI strains have more AMR genes. Principal component analysis (PCA) of virulence factors associated with persistence and infectivity indicated variation based on phylogroups, including the predominant cluster; identifiable variations among environmental versus clinical strains were not observed. Identification of multiple distinct genetic groups highlights the importance of putting epidemiological genomic studies in a proper genetic context.

Keywords: Serratia marcescens; environmental microbiology; outbreak; correctional facility; virulence factors; AMR; whole genome sequencing and investigation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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