Serratia

A genus of motile, peritrichous, aerobic to facultatively anaerobic bacteria (family Enterobacteriaceae) which contain small, Gram-negative rods. Some strains are encapsulated. Many strains produce a pink, red, or magenta pigment; their metabolism is fermentative and they are saprophytic on decaying plant and animal materials. The type species is S. marcescens. [Serafino Serrati, 18th century Italian physicist]

- S. marcescens a species found in water, soil, milk, foods, and silkworms and other insects; a significant cause of hospital-acquired infection, especially in patients with impaired immunity; it is the type species of the genus S..

* * *

Ser·ra·tia se-'rā-sh(ē-)ə n a genus of aerobic saprophytic flagellated rod-shaped bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae that occur as rods, commonly produce a bright red pigment, and are now usu. considered serotypes of a single species (S. marcescens) which has been implicated in some human opportunistic infections

Ser·ra·ti se-'rä-tē Serafino Italian boatman. The genus Serratia was so named in 1823 by Bartolomeo Bizio, a bacteriologist at the University of Padua, Italy, in honor of Serrati, who was engaged in operating a steamboat on the Arno River.

* * *

Ser·ra·tia (sə-raґshe-ə) [Serafino Serrati, Italian physicist, 18th century] a genus of gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacteria of the family Enterobacteriaceae, consisting of motile, peritrichously flagellated rods, sometimes capsulated. Most strains produce white, pink, or red pigments. The organisms occur widely on plants, in soil, and in water. Many species are opportunistic pathogens, causing infections of the endocardium, blood, wounds, and urinary and respiratory tracts in immunocompromised patients. The type species is S. marcesґcens.