publications – hygiene in practice

Apr 01, 2019

News "Silo busting” in the fight against surgical site infections

Hygienists, microbiologists, institutions and companies have been researching and developing measures to combat postoperative wound infections (surgical site infections, SSI) for years. Despite efforts to contain SSI, they remain one of the most common forms of nosocomial infections in Europe. With the aim of slowing down this development, experts from various disciplines are now working even more closely together to break down silos.

Nov 26, 2018

News Developing a germ-free stethoscope

Stethoscopes are used in nearly every patient examination, and they belong to the basic equipment of general practitioners. To prevent the transmission of germs, medical specialists should disinfect the device after each patient contact. An invention by a 16-year-old girl could simplify this hygiene measure immensely.

Nov 20, 2018

News The norovirus is in season: Why these pathogens are so dangerous

You might say the norovirus is the ninja of the virus world: stealthy and highly efficient. Ten virus particles are enough to infect a human being. This makes the virus one of the most infectious pathogens out there. Especially during the colder winter months, the number of gastrointestinal diseases caused by the virus rises rapidly.

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.

Oct 12, 2018

News Researchers find new strategy to specifically target the hospital germ Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Increasingly, bacteria are becoming resistant to antibiotics. When no antibiotic is effective, even "simple" infections can lead to patient death. Researchers have found a new approach for eliminating the bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

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.

Jul 04, 2018

News WHO “priority pathogens” list: The most dangerous bacteria in the world

As antibiotic-resistant bacteria continue to spread, calls for new therapeutics are getting louder. In response, the World Health Organization (WHO) has drawn up a list of the twelve most important bacteria for which new drugs urgently must be developed.

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