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We are primarily concerned with surveying and studying the emergence and spread of those bacterial nosocomial pathogens that can act as indicators of hospital hygiene efficacy and rational antibacterial chemotherapy. Although our work primarily focusses on aspects of MRSA and VRE, further analyses and studies of gram-negative bacteria (E.coli, Klebsiella spp., and others) with production of extended spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBL) and carbapenemases are also addressed in our group.
Of particular interest is the spread and evolution of newly emerging resistance characteristics, of multiresistant strains and of epidemic strain variants. Our studies are based on population-wide analysis of successful clonal lineages and on the identification of genetic determinants for antibiotic resistance and pathogenicity. In addition, we have targeted projects aimed at evaluating advanced diagnostic and typing methodologies. Since decades we serve the "One-health" approach by participating or coordinating various interdisciplinary research projects to identify and quantify agricultural and environmental reservoirs of antibiotic resistance.
Scientists of our unit are active members in various national and international societies and their corresponding working and study groups (German Society for Hygiene and Microbiology (DGHM), the Paul-Ehrlich Society (PEG), the European Society for Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID)) and represent the institute at distinct national and international commissions and institutions, such as at the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Scientists of our unit give lectures and are actively involved in students’ education at universities in neighbouring cities (Braunschweig, Magdeburg, Göttingen, Hanover). Regularly, bachelor, master and PhD students perform their experimental work as part of their studies in our laboratories and under supervision of our scientists.
The unit hosts the German National Reference Centre for Staphylococci and Enterococci.
Date: 17.02.2020
Our main focus is the epidemiological surveillance of staphylococcal infections in hospitals and the community as well as of emerging and disseminating staphylococcal strains with special resistance and virulence traits (Hospital associated HA-MRSA, community-associated CA-MRSA, livestock-associated LA-MRSA).
The reference centre provides a typing service to support the analysis of nosocomial infections in a network of bacteriological laboratories at university hospitals, general hospitals, public health institutions and private diagnostic laboratories. Furthermore prospective clinical studies are supported and performed in collaboration with clinical partners. The reference centre is further involved in the evaluation of new methods of staphylococcal and enterococcal diagnostics and typing. We analyse, characterize and type approximately 4000 staphylococci (mainly MRSA) and 1000 enterococci (mainly VRE) per year. The reference centre collaborates closely with other reference laboratories mainly in Europe.
Date: 17.02.2020