Evaluation of CHROMagar™-Serratia agar, a new chromogenic medium for the detection and isolation of Serratia marcescens.

A comparative analysis of the performance of the new selective chromogenic CHROMagar™-Serratia culture medium for detection and isolation of Serratia marcescens was undertaken. A total of 134 clinical isolates (95 S. marcescens with and without carbapenemase production and 39 non-S. marcescens isolates) and 96 epidemiological samples (46 rectal swabs and 50 from environmental surfaces) were studied. Diagnostic values when compared with CHROMagar™-Orientation medium were 96.8% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 88.5% negative predictive value. In conclusion, CHROMagar™-Serratia shows an excellent ability for differentiation of S. marcescens among clinical isolates and in environmental samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]