Heat-Related Mortality in Germany 2023 and 2024

During the summer months, high outdoor temperatures regularly lead to significantly increased mortality rates. The summers of 2023 and 2024 in Germany averaged 18.6°C and 18.5°C, respectively, and thus, 2.3°C and 2.2°C above the internationally valid reference period from 1961 to 1990 (16.3°C for Germany). An analysis of the mortality trend in 2023 and 2024 showed a heat-related excess mortality of approximately 3,000 deaths, respectively. The present analysis follows existing work in terms of methodology but expands the methodological approach by adjusting the mortality trend for shifts resulting from and following the COVID-19 pandemic.

(Article in German)

PrEP Surveillance in Germany – Results of the fifth biannual survey in HIV centers

As part of the project "Surveillance of HIV Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Provision within Statutory Health Insurance in Germany" (PrEP-Surv), funded by the Federal Ministry of Health, biannual surveys on the use and provision of HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) are conducted in HIV centers. The fifth biannual survey addressed, among other things, the supply shortage of the drug containing tenofovir disoproxil/emtricitabine (TDF/FTC) and its consequences for PrEP provision.

(Article in German)

Decision on the extension of the STIKO recommendation for the standard vaccination against diseases caused by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) for people ≥ 75 as well as an indication-based vaccination of people aged 60 to 74 with risk factors, to include an mRNA vaccine

The decision and scientific rationale for the extension of the STIKO recommendation to include an mRNA-based RSV vaccine are published in Epidemiologisches Bulletin 15/2025. The STIKO recommends a single RSV vaccination for all persons aged ≥ 75 years, for those aged 60 to 74 years who have a severe underlying disease as well as for persons living in a care facility. In autumn 2024, the STIKO reviewed the data on two protein-based RSV vaccines and more recently on a new mRNA RSV vaccine and decided to recommend a single RSV vaccination with one of the three approved vaccines as a standard vaccination for all persons aged ≥ 75 years as well as an indication-based vaccination for people aged 60 to 74 with risk factors, preferably before the RSV season. A preferential recommendation for one of the vaccines cannot be made.

(Article in German)

World Tuberculosis Day 2025 – Yes! We Can End TB: Commit, Invest, Deliver

Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and generally curable disease. However, in 2023 it once again became the world's leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, after being overtaken by COVID-19 in the previous two years. Urgent action is needed to end the global TB epidemic by 2035 – a goal adopted by all United Nations member states and the WHO. On the occasion of World Tuberculosis Day on March 24, 2025, the Epidemiologisches Bulletin 12+13/2025 presents the progress and challenges in the field of TB.

Integrated Molecular Surveillance of Tuberculosis – Current Status and Initial Results

Since 2020, the Robert Koch Institute and the National Reference Center for Mycobacteria, in collaboration with relevant public health stakeholders, have been establishing the Integrated Molecular Surveillance of Tuberculosis (IMS-TB). Within the framework of IMS-TB, the genomes of tuberculosis pathogens from culture-positive cases reported in Germany are systematically analyzed using whole-genome sequencing. The sequence data are then linked to the reporting data in accordance with the Infection Protection Act, and the results are continuously evaluated.

Homelessness and Tuberculosis in Hamburg

Homeless tuberculosis patients regularly pose significant challenges for public health authorities. On the one hand, the responsibility for treatment costs for patients without health insurance is not clearly and uniformly regulated in Germany. On the other hand, those affected often suffer from comorbidities. Addictions, in particular, make treatment adherence difficult. The Epidemiologisches Bulletin 12+13/2025 reports on findings on tuberculosis transmission in the context of homelessness in Hamburg based on several molecular biological clusters and outlines the working methods of the Tuberculosis Control Unit in Hamburg.

Predictors of Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Frankfurt am Main, 2008–2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is primarily a lung disease, but it can also manifest in numerous other organs. According to the WHO definition, extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) is TB without involvement of the lung parenchyma, trachea, or bronchi. Due to the rarity of other manifestations and often non-specific symptoms, the diagnosis of EPTB is in many cases delayed. Therefore, it is of practical importance to know the predictors of EPTB. In the Epidemiologisches Bulletin 12+13/2025, the predictors of EPTB are analyzed based on TB cases reported in Frankfurt am Main.

(Articles in German)

The measles vaccination mandate - a success story?

In November 2024, the Robert Koch Institute held the workshop "The measles vaccination mandate - a success story?" as part of a research project to evaluate the measles vaccination mandate. The purpose was to discuss whether five years after the adoption of the Measles Protection Act in 2019, the mandatory proof of a vaccination against measles can be considered a successful public health measure. The conference report describes how over the course of two days, data, experiences and the future of the measles vaccination mandate were discussed. Among the participants of the workshop were stakeholders from public health service, research, politics and medical practice.

(Article in German)

DART 2030 and its cross-sectoral implementation - a use case for local ABS networks?

Combating the health threat posed by antibiotic resistance is based primarily on two pillars: hygienic and preventive measures with surveillance and containment of resistant pathogens, and measures for the rational and responsible use of antibiotics, usually summarized as "antibiotic stewardship" (ABS). In 2008, the German Antibiotic Resistance Strategy (DART) was developed under the leadership of the BMG, which included a comprehensive concept for dealing with the ecological problem of bacterial multi-resistance. In 2023, the BMG further developed this strategy paper as "DART 2030". A central approach is to bring together different stakeholders to exchange knowledge and make use of synergies. These aspects were an important driving force for the establishment of the ABS network Westfalen-Lippe in 2022.

Model project for antibiotic resistance surveillance in Ostwestfalen-Lippe

Various international and national surveillance programs and interactive databases to monitor resistance developments have been established and incorporate data from institutions such as laboratories and hospitals of different countries. The central database in Germany is the Antibiotic Resistance Surveillance (ARS) at the RKI, which in turn is linked to international networks (e. g. ECDC and WHO). This article presents the model project of a regional, multi-hospital resistance observatory. The structured compilation of resistance data from the three hospitals that make up the University Hospital of Ostwestfalen-Lippe offers a direct comparison with national reference data and is able to depict special features of regional infection events.

(Articles in German)

HPV-related cancer in men - an underestimated risk

On the occasion of this year's World Cancer Day, the Epidemiologisches Bulletin 6/2025 has published an article about cancer in men that is caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV): The connection between HPV infection and oropharyngeal or anogenital cancers area has been clearly proven. (Article in German)

Recommen­dations by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (STIKO) at the Robert Koch Institute 2025

The STIKO vaccination recommendations were endorsed in the 109th STIKO meeting.

Report of the National Reference Center for Gram-negative Hospital Pathogens for the year 2023

In 2023, the National Reference Center (NRZ) for gram-negative hospital pathogens received 10,257 submissions of bacterial isolates. This corresponded to an increase of 7.4 % compared to 2022 (n = 9,548). The number of carbapenemase detections also increased – and in relative terms, more evidently than the number of submissions. According to the NRZ data, the increasing detection of carbapenemase-producing bacterial strains in Germany is therefore real and not just due to an increase in test numbers. This represents a relevant problem insofar as the production of carbapenemase is often associated with resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics that are widely used in clinics and therefore drastically restricts available treatment options.