Institute for Infection Prevention and Control

The laboratory supports the Division of Infection Control in routine environmental monitoring (water, air, decontamination control) conducted by infection control staff in various departments of the university medical centre.

Main activities

Routine environmental monitoring:
Monitoring of procedures for cleaning and processing of endoscopes, washer-disinfectors, water (dialysate, drinking water, bathing water) for pathogens (Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Legionella), and control of cleaning and disinfection procedures employed in the hospital kitchens.

In vitro susceptibility testing of reference stocks of nosocomial pathogens against antibiotics and other antimicrobial substances (MIC and synergism).

Molecular epidemiology of noscomial pathogens and their antibiotic resistance genes. The laboratory supports the Division of Hospital Hygiene in the clarification of the assumed routes of transmission during outbreaks. For external bacterial typing queries: quotations on demand.

Main activities

Our main of research is on the national spread of multi-resistant bacterial pathogens and antibiotic resistance genes e.g. beta-lactamases, and their classification in genetically meaningful groups. Research also focuses on the genetic relationship between nosocomial infectious pathogens and bacterial populations in the out-of-hospital environment.