Hospital pathogens | German Center for Infection Research

Skip to main content

Short description

Hospital pathogens are microorganisms that patients can get infected with in connection with hospital treatment.

Synonyms

Nosocomial pathogens

Detailed description

The most common pathogens that cause nosocomial infections—also called hospital pathogens or healthcare-associated pathogens—are summarised under the acronym ‘ESKAPE’. These include Enterococcus faecium, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter baumannii, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enterobacter species. They can spread in hospitals and clinical facilities due to a lack of hygiene measures and the incorrect use of antibiotics, among other things. The increase in nosocomial bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics is particularly worrying. Healthcare-associated infections can lead to wound, bloodstream, respiratory and urinary tract infections, meningitis and other infectious diseases.

Tanja Schneider presenting the PHOENIX award

Prof. Tanja Schneider receives PHOENIX Pharmacy Science Award

Prof. Tanja Schneider, Head of the Institute of Pharmaceutical Microbiology at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB) and Deputy Coordinator of the “New Antibiotics” research area at the German Center for

Banner der WHO zur World AMR Awareness Week 2024

World AMR Awareness Week 2024, 18-24 November – Educate. Advocate. Act now.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the most urgent challenges facing global health and development. Described as a “creeping pandemic” by the G7 forum of leading economic nations, AMR occurs

The image shows a highly magnified electron micrograph of several oval, slightly rough Escherichia coli bacterial cells. The colour of the image is a reddish tone. The background is dark and highlights the bacteria.

Chemical trick activates antibiotic directly at the pathogen

Colistin is a last-resort antibiotic that is usually only used for severe infections with resistant bacteria. This is due to its severe kidney-damaging side effects, which occur in around 30 percent

Blood-sucking mosquito whose proboscis has pierced the skin, with a red-coloured abdomen.

Very slow developing malaria pathogens could be suitable as a vaccine

Scientists from the Heidelberg Medical Faculty at Heidelberg University, the Centre for Infectious Diseases at Heidelberg University Hospital and the German Center for Infection Research have

A group of ten people are standing outside in front of a building. The background shows a one-storey building with a tin roof and plants.

UNITE4TB completes recruitment for DECISION trial

UNITE4TB—an international public-private partnership aiming to accelerate the development of innovative tuberculosis treatments—has announced the successful completion of participant recruitment for

Staphylococcus aureus

Innovative Phage Lysin HY-133 enters phase I clinical study

HYpharm's innovative preventive agent HY-133 has reached the first clinical trial phase. HY-133 is specifically effective against the bacterial pathogen Staphylococcus aureus including multi-resistant

Prof. Dr Christoph M. Ernst

Funding from the Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation for Prof Christoph Ernst

Prof. Dr Christoph Ernst from the Institute of Medical Microbiology, Immunology and Hygiene at the University Hospital of Cologne and the Faculty of Medicine has been selected for the Boehringer

Prof Achim Hoerauf in his laboratory at the University Hospital Bonn

New antibiotic against river blindness and lymphatic filariasis pathogens

A team led by Prof Achim Hoerauf in the German Center for Infection Research (DZIF) is further developing the antibiotic corallopyronin A as a treatment for the neglected tropical diseases river

Prof Ulrich Kubitscheck, Jan-Samuel Puls, Dominik Brajtenbach and Dr Fabian Grein (from left to right), all in white lab coats, photographed as a group in the lab.

Lantibiotics: antibacterial substance with new mechanism of action discovered

Many bacteria produce substances to gain an advantage over competitors in their highly competitive natural environment. Researchers at the University Hospital Bonn (UKB), the University of Bonn and

The cartoon illustration shows a semi-circular arc of medication capsules in different colours on a blue background and a lung with eyes, a smiling mouth and the words "YES! We can endTB" and "End TB" in a coloured circle.

World Tuberculosis Day on 24 March 2024 under the motto "Yes! We can end TB!"

While tuberculosis (TB) has become relatively rare in Germany and other industrialised nations, around ten million people contract the bacterial infection every year, especially in resource-poorer