Serratia marcescens infection, treatment

Levofloxacin (1), the levo-isomer or the (5)-enantiomer of ofloxacin, received FDA approval in 1996 (Fish, 2003 Hurst et al., 2002 Mascaretti, 2003 Norrby, 1999 North et al., 1998). The initial approval covered community-acquired pneumonia, acute bacterial exacerbation of chronic bronchitis, acute maxillary sinusitis, uncomplicated skin and skin structure infections, acute pyelonephritis, and complicated urinary tract infections (North et al., 1998). Four years later, the levofloxacin indication list grew to include community-acquired pneumonia caused by penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae. In addition, in 2002, nosocomial (hospital-acquired) pneumonia caused by methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Serratia marcescens, Haemophilus influenzae, Kliebsella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli was added (Hurst et al., 2002). Finally in 2004, LVX was approved as a post-exposure treatment for individuals exposed to Bacillus anthracis, the microbe that causes anthrax, via inhalation (FDA, 2004). 

Gentamicin is well established for the treatment of several bacterial infections, especially those caused by Gramnegative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella species, and Serratia marcescens. In adults, it is usually given in daily doses of 240-360 mg. 

Kanamycin can be used for short-term treatment of severe infections caused by susceptible strains (for example Escherichia coli, Proteus species, Enterobacter aerogenes, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens, and Mima-Elerellea) that are resistant to other less ototoxic aminoglycosides. It is not indicated for long-term therapy, for example in tuberculosis. 

TABLE XIV A Comparison of the Effectiveness of Ceftriaxone, Cefotaxime, and Cef-menoxime in the Treatment of Experimental Infections Due to Serratia marcescens 803-13 in Mice... 

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