Detail

Keywords

Anti-Infective Agents; Anti-Infective Agents, Local; Bacterial Infections and Mycoses; Biofilms; Environmental Microbiology; Epidemiologic Studies; Hand Hygiene; Hygiene; Infection Control; Preventive Medicine; Surgical Wound Infection

Research group(s)

• Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology
  Head: Elisabeth Presterl
  Research Area: Infection control research focuses on epidemiology, prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and multi-resistant bacteria genotyping of the latter. We do studies for applied hospital hygiene and intervention studies.
  Members:
  Elisabeth Presterl
• Decontamination Science
  Head: Elisabeth Presterl
  Research Area: Decontamination of medical devices and medical environment are indispensible basis for modern medicine and patient safety. Due the progress in the development of new clincial methods and devices systematic on decontamination and reprocessing is pivot
  Members:
  Elisabeth Presterl

Research interests

Infection control research focuses on epidemiology, prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections (HAI) and multi-resistant microorganisms (MDRO) using genome sequencing. We do studies for applied hospital hygiene and intervention studies. A continuous interest is in the epidemiology, clinical course, control and prevention of healthcare-associated infections. A new focus is on automation of HAI surveillance.

The microbiological research focuses on microbial biofilms, biofilm- associated infections (prosthetic joint infections, endocarditis) and biofilm formation factors. "Decontamination research" comprises testing of new techniques for disinfection and sterilization and their application in clinical environment.

Techniques, methods & infrastructure

• Infection control and epidemiology on healtcare associated infections, infection transmission and control. Intervention studies to improve processes
• Control and characterization of multiresistant microorganisms with the help of new typing methods and technology (NGS)
• Environmental cultures for applied hospital studies - environmental microbioma 
• Biofilm models (static, dynamic), staining and quantifying of biofilms, fluorescent stains, confocal laser scanning microscopy (together with the imaging core unit), resistance testing of biofilms;
• Testing, improvement and quality control of methods for disinfection and sterilization; 

Grants

• Surveillance of HAI (2019)
  Source of Funding: Bundesministerium für Soziales, Gesundheit, Pflege und Konsumentenschutz, ARHAI
  Principal Investigator
• Weißer Arztmantel – Infektionsvektor (2018)
  Source of Funding: Medical Scientific Fund of the Mayor of the City of Vienna, Wissenschaftlichen Fonds des Bürgermeisters der Bundeshauptstadt Wien
  Principal Investigator

Selected publications

1. Denkel, L.A. et al. (2024) ‘Automated surveillance for surgical site infections (SSI) in hospitals and surveillance networks–expert perspectives for implementation’, Antimicrobial Resistance & Infection Control, 13(1). Available at: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13756-024-01505-2.
2. Leeb-Zatorska, B. et al. (2024) ‘Tolerance of Pseudomonas oleovorans biofilms to disinfectants commonly used in endoscope reprocessing?’, Biofilm, 8, p. 100221. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bioflm.2024.100221.
3. Righi, E. et al. (2024) ‘European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases/European Committee on infection control clinical guidelines on pre-operative decolonization and targeted prophylaxis in patients colonized by multidrug-resistant Gram-positive bacteria before surgery’, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 30(12), pp. 1537–1550. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2024.07.012.
4. Clodi-Seitz, T. et al. (2024) ‘Point-of-Care Method T2Bacteria®Panel Enables a More Sensitive and Rapid Diagnosis of Bacterial Blood Stream Infections and a Shorter Time until Targeted Therapy than Blood Culture’, Microorganisms, 12(5), p. 967. Available at: https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms12050967.
5. Humphreys, H. et al. (2023) ‘Greater attention to flexible hospital designs and ventilated clinical facilities are a pre-requisite for coping with the next airborne pandemic’, Clinical Microbiology and Infection, 29(10), pp. 1229–1231. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cmi.2023.05.014.