Healthcare-Associated Infections

Patients colonized with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)—particularly immunocompromised patients—are at increased risk of developing subsequent VRE infections. Repeated antibiotic therapies are not an option for decolonization in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy, as antibiotic-induced selection pressure may promote the further spread of multidrug-resistant enterococci. Effective and sustainable strategies for reducing or eradicating [...]

Infections caused by multidrug-resistant Gram-negative organisms are a major contributor to severe disease and mortality worldwide. Infection is often preceded by colonization of the intestine with these organisms, which cannot be controlled by oral antibiotic therapy. Fecal Microbiota Transfer (FMT) is a promising alternative for achieving long-term decolonization of the [...]

The progressing global spread of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, particularly Klebsiella pneumoniae and Escherichia coli, poses a massive threat to public health as traditional antibiotics lose their effectiveness. Often, the actual infection is preceded by the asymptomatic colonization of the gut with these resistant bacteria. In cases of immune deficiency, these [...]

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a multidrug-resistant bacterium that can cause life-threatening infections, such as sepsis and pneumonia. One of the key weapons used by this bacterium is the type III secretion system (T3SS), which contains the protein PcrV. Researchers at the DZIF discovered that patients with chronic infections develop highly effective [...]

There are a number of factors responsible for the development of antibiotic resistance. So far, the interactions between pathogens and the complex microbial colonisation (microbiota) of the human body under the selection pressure of antibiotic treatment play a little studied and underestimated role. DZIF-coordinated study cohorts such as TIARA make [...]

In many infections, even proper antibiotic treatment does not lead to the expected therapeutic success. In the case of treatment with antibiotics, the doctor usually first decides which antibiotic to prescribe based on the type of infection. If resistance to the antibiotic already prescribed is detected, the therapy will be [...]

The bacterial pathogens Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae are the most common sexually transmitted infections (STIs) leading to infertility in women. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 89 million new infections with genital chlamydia and 78 million infections with gonococci occur worldwide every year. In contrast to other European [...]

By applying innovative diagnostic methods such as rapid point-of-care tests, multi-omics technologies as well as novel predictive models, clinical management and thus most likely treatment outcomes can be improved. In addition to the high information content of these new methods, the prompt availability of the results as well as the [...]

Antibiotic resistance is increasing at an alarming rate worldwide. New treatment options are urgently needed. Due to their specificity toward bacterial hosts, bacteriophages are a promising alternative or adjunct therapeutic option to conventional antibiotics. Their specificity and lack of adverse side effects make phages important objects in biomedicine research. Among [...]

Major abdominal surgery in particular is associated with high postoperative infection rates. Despite well-established surveillance systems for surgical wound infections, there is a lack of comprehensive reporting on infectious complications and the impact of the use of anti-infectives during and after surgery. The TIARA project aims to close this knowledge [...]

Implementation of evidence-based infection control practices to reduce healthcare-associated infection remains a national and international priority. R-Net investigates the effect of various interventions aimed at limiting the spread of infections due to multi-drug resistant organisms (MDRO)—including infection prevention and control, decolonisation, antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) and the development of new antimicrobials [...]

Bloodstream infections (BSI) are associated with high morbidity and mortality worldwide and are still considered as one of the most severe bacterial infections. The BLOOMY-PREDICT project is an observational study, which runs at five German university hospitals. Within the scope of the project, different clinical values of patients such as [...]

Recent studies show that there has been an increasing spread of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in hospital patients in Germany in recent years. Enterococci are abundant in the intestines of humans (and animals) and are generally only slightly pathogenic. However, infections caused by these resistant pathogens pose an immediate threat to [...]

In this project, the scientists develop genetically engineered phage lysins and specific bacteriocins for the elimination of hospital germs such as Staphylococcus aureus, they clarify mechanisms of potential resistance mechanisms, and they analyse whether broad-spectrum or specifically acting agents have a more effective and lasting effect on colonization by [...]