The Dienes effect as an epidemiological tool in a paraplegic unit

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Cross-infections and cross-contaminations pose significant risks in healthcare settings, particularly for vulnerable patient populations.
• Understanding microbial transmission dynamics is crucial for effective infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the Dienes effect as a stable epidemiological tool for identifying cross-infections and cross-contaminations.
• To assess the persistence of the Dienes effect in microbial strains, even after modifications in antibiotic resistance.

Main Methods:

• The Dienes effect was studied in 136 P.mirabilis strains and 2 P.vulgaris strains from spinal cord-injured patients.
• Microbial strains were isolated from various infection and colonization sites over a 9-month period.
• Antibiotic resistance modification was induced using acriflavine salts to test the Dienes effect's stability.

Main Results:

• Seven cross-infection and 18 cross-contamination episodes were identified, affecting 13 out of 27 patients.
• The Dienes effect demonstrated high stability, with 97% of results reproducible after 6 months of strain storage.
• The Dienes effect persisted in 7 strains even after their antibiotic resistance was altered by acriflavine treatment.

Conclusions:

• The Dienes effect is a reliable and stable epidemiological marker for detecting cross-infections and their sources.
• This method aids in interrupting the chain of infection within healthcare environments.
• The persistence of the Dienes effect highlights its utility irrespective of changes in microbial antibiotic resistance profiles.