Research Group
Risk Group 4 – Stability and Persistence

Head:

Susann Kummer

Staff

Susann Kummer, Ph.D. (Dr.rer.nat.)
Joo-Hee Wälzlein, Ph.D.

Research

Our research is funded by the BMG and aims to provide evidence-based data to improve biosafety measures for laboratories and patient management.

Endemic and pandemic outbreaks of emerging and (re)emerging viruses in recent decades demonstrate the importance of scientific data for the risk assessment of potential infection routes and validated decontamination procedures.

In addition to the comprehensive requirements for the management and care of patients with diseases caused by highly pathogenic viruses, extensive infection control measures are also essential to prevent further transmission through environmental contamination. The way in which infection control measures are implemented for the handling of relevant patients and contaminated materials is often controversial due to the lack of evidence-based scientific data.

For risk assessments including data of environmental stability, i.e. reduction of infectious viruses over time in excreta (body fluids) and on various potentially contaminated surfaces requiring infection control, as well as for testing their inactivation properties, we:
(i) validate defined sampling techniques to obtain reproducible results for swabs on different surfaces
(ii) determine persistence of infectivity for risk group 4 pathogens in different fluids and on surfaces for various environmental conditions
(iii) validate disinfection and decontamination procedures for these pathogens.

The results will serve as the basis for recommendations to adjust safety requirements for high- containment laboratories and provide better evidence for infection control in hospital isolation wards and consequently for patient and employee safety.

Schematic depiction of the complete workflow of the testing approach. Created with Biorender.com.

48-well-plate with testing material under steril working bench in BSL4 laboratory.

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