Serratia plymuthica

An aerobic gram-negative bacillus that grows readily on most microbiological media producing a red (prodigiosin) colony. Pigment production occurs between 12oC and 36oC. It is capable of growth at 4oC but isolates are capable of growth at 37oC. Some isolates may produce a musty-potato-like odor (2-methoxy-3-isopropyl-pyrazine). It can be isolated from fresh water and very rarely from human sputum. There have been no reports of human infections.

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