Study Archive - hygiene in practice

Jun 19, 2020

Study Within the hospital: Which surfaces may be contaminated with SARS-CoV-2?

During the peak phase of the coronavirus epidemic in China, scientists in a 3,300-bed hospital in Wuhan investigated the surfaces and objects on which the novel SARS-CoV-2 can be found. Researchers took surface swabs in different risk zones and evaluated the distribution of the contamination in percentage terms. The investigations took place at a time when extensive disinfection measures had already been installed and the personnel were also already aware of the risk of transmission.

Dec 16, 2019

Study Infection control: Using big data analytics to estimate the efficacy of hygiene interventions

As the use of digitalisation increases, collecting and analysing big data sets can greatly contribute to improving patient safety. Mathematical models can be of great value for estimating how effective hygiene measures are in reducing infection risk. A recent study estimates the effect of combined infection control interventions on virus concentration on the hands of medical staff.

Nov 09, 2018

Study New ECDC Study: last-line antibiotics increasingly ineffective

It is a figure that is significantly higher than previously thought: Around 33,000 Europeans die every year as a result of bacterial infections. The main reason is that antibiotics are no longer effective against many of these infections. Even last-line antibiotics are no longer able to cure almost 40 percent of all infections investigated in a recent study.

Aug 31, 2018

Study How the immune system can help in the fight against germs

Researchers from Vienna and Belfast have found out how the immune system slows down the growth of the multi-resistant germ Klebsiella pneumoniae. The results could lead to new therapeutic options for treating infections.

Aug 01, 2018

Study Antibiotic stewardship plus hand hygiene - more effective against resistant germs than traditional strategy

The global spread of multi-resistant bacteria, particularly gram-negative bacteria, is a risk for patients. When this type of germ is detected in a hospital, the traditional strategy of “screening, isolation and eradication” usually takes effect. But does evidence prove that this method really is the most effective? A team of researchers asked themselves this question and came to astonishing conclusions.

Jul 25, 2018

Study Antibiotic-resistant bacteria: New active ingredient in sight

A newly discovered antibody could be used to treat several bacteria simultaneously - including hospital germs that are resistant to many antibiotics. This has been reported by a recent study.

Jul 18, 2018

Study New antibiotic against multi-resistant germs discovered

A newly discovered class of lipopeptide antibiotics fights multi-resistant bacteria. Scientists at the TU Berlin are working on translating their findings into new drugs.

Apr 04, 2018

Study Consistent hand hygiene saves lives

Consistent hand hygiene reduces the monthly mortality rate in nursing homes, particularly during influenza peaks. The use of antibiotics also declines. These are the findings in a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control.

Mar 24, 2018

Study Residual antiseptic active ingredients are not recommended for surgical hand disinfection

For hygienic hand disinfection, residual substances in alcoholic hand disinfectants are no longer recommended. This advisory has been in effect since the KRINKO guideline “Hand Hygiene in Health Care Facilities" was published in autumn 2016. The benefit of residual active ingredients for surgical hand disinfection was still unclear at the time of publication of the directive. A recent study has now closed this gap.

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