Biofilm Formation by UropathogenicSerratiamarcescens

Abstract

Gram-negative nosocomial Serratiamarcescens is responsible for severe urinary tract infections (UTIs) in hospitalized individuals. S. marcescens’squorum sensing (QS) system regulates biofilm formation. This study aimed to test S. marcescens’s capacity to establish biofilms. Out of 150 clinical specimens were collected from patients admitted to Baghdad Medical City, only 23 were positive growth of  S. marcescens.The S. marcescensisolates were idenitifed byCHROMagarSerratia and the VITEK-2 system compact. Microplate technique was employed to investigate biofilm formation. DNA extractions were conducted on all positive isolates to confirm their identity through PCR amplification of a fragment of rpIUgene. S. marcescens was identified in all 23 isolates. 11 (47.8%) and 12 (52.2%) isolates were capable of establishing moderate and weak biofilms, respectively. However, none of the isolates was a robust biofilm-former.Serratiamarcescens isolates from catheter-associated and UTIs have shown a significant capacity for biofilm formation, indicating potential for UTIs.