General Question

PriceisRightx26's avatar

Any medical professionals or microbiologists on here?

Asked by PriceisRightx26 (1258points) May 6th, 2016

Did some research and I’m fairly certain that my apartment seems to be a Serratia Marcescens hotspot. More or less just want to know if it’s something that I should actually be concerned about.

Back story: I first noticed some pink funk in my yogurt quite a few months ago. Tossed it, whatever. Then I noticed that there was pink stuff building up in my humidifier. Began regularly cleaning it with Clorox wipes. Then I noticed it showing up in my sinks and now I just noticed it in my toilet (which seems to have some other bacterial stuff going on with it, so I’ve already been treating it with bleach). I’m a pretty clean person (actually have OCD and regularly wipe everything down with bleach), so I highly doubt it’s a cleanliness factor here. Anywho, so I assumed that it was something in the water, as it’s only showing up in areas that are moist. Google turned this out, which seems to point to the bacteria being abundant and airborne. The information from the water companies is saying don’t worry about it, but the hospitals and microbiologists are saying otherwise. I can’t seem to get a clear answer as to how people actually become infected by it. I noticed it said that the infection can cause respiratory issues which raises a red flag because I’ve had a couple colds since I moved into this place less than a year ago, which is unusual for me. Obviously those could be brought on by a plethora of reasons, though.

TLDR; Does anyone here know how the bacteria infects people?

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6 Answers

Rarebear's avatar

Serratia can only be diagnosed by culture.

Dutchess_III's avatar

Just find a lab who will do the culture for you.

Stinley's avatar

There are a lot of bacteria around us all the time and mostly we live quite happily alongside them. Sometimes they help us, like good gut bacteria and sometimes they cause us problems, like salmonella.

You seem to have a good insight into your own personal issues with cleanliness and are open about the OCD you have. Can you try to come to terms with the fact that this bacteria is abundant in your home but that this perfectly normal?

I read the wiki page and it seems that this bacteria is not harmful to normal healthy people. And two colds a year is lower than average. So it seems that you are healthier than average!

I am sure you are doing this already but I would like to suggest that you seek help with the ocd rather than the bacteria

Dutchess_III's avatar

Or she could be older, therefore prone to fewer colds. I haven’t had a cold in years and years and years, because I’m immune to the most common cold viruses because I done had ‘em!

JLeslie's avatar

Your county should have a department that can help you that. They come out and take a culture. It’s usually around $75—$100.

It’s not unusual for showers or toilets to get a pinkish tinge at the water line or areas that water sits the longest before drying in grout. Tylex usually cleans it right up in 5 minutes.

Dutchess_III's avatar

May I ask when and how you became familiar with Serratia Marcescens? Was it fairly recently?

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