Egads It’s Enterobacteriaceae: <i>Serratia rubidaea</i> Urinary Tract Infection & <i>Enterobacter aerogenes</i> Bacteremic Urinary Tract Infection

Abstract

We present the 3 rd known case of a Serratia rubidaea urinary tract infection in a 49-year-old male with past medical history of bilateral lower extremity paraplegia who presented to the emergency room with fever, lethargy, and red tinted urine. The Serratia genus, of the family Enterobacteracia , in particular the species marcescens , are important causes of infection in humans, animals, and insects, however, until the mid-1950s, this was not the case, and the organism was considered non-pathogenic and frequently used in medical experiments. Serratia are facultatively anaerobic, gram-negative rods, the majority with peritrichous flagella primarily inhabiting soil, water, and plant surfaces. Serratia marcescens is now a known pathogen, however, less frequently isolated species, including Serratia rubidaea , are worthy of discussion, especially due to its characteristic red color and rarity. We aim to increase the awareness Serratia rubidaea including its presentation, inherent antimicrobial resistance, and treatment options.