Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology
The Clinic for Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene specializes in the outpatient and inpatient assessment and treatment of patients with all types of infectious diseases and immune disorders. The clinic is also involved in the training and further education of students and doctors in the field of infectiology.
We care for patients with infectious diseases
- in the general infectiology consultation.
- in the HIV consultation.
- in the emergency ward.
- on wards of the Department of Internal Medicine and in all clinics of the University Hospital.
We advise doctors on infectiology and hospital hygiene issues, both in surgeries and in external hospitals. We detect and prevent transmissible infections in hospital. We also support medical personnel who have come into contact with blood or body fluid infections. We conduct clinical and laboratory research into infectious diseases and are active in teaching, training and continuing education in the fields of infectious diseases and hospital hygiene.
Frequently asked questions
Infectiology is a medical specialty that deals with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. This includes a variety of tasks:
- Diagnosis and treatment: Infectiologists identify and treat bacterial, viral, fungal and parasitic infections. They develop treatment plans, often in collaboration with other specialists.
- Prevention: Infectiologists work on the prevention of infectious diseases, e.g. through vaccination programs, hygiene guidelines and the control of disease outbreaks.
- Advice and support: They advise other doctors and medical staff on the treatment of infections and hospital hygiene issues.
- Research: Infectiologists conduct research into new pathogens, resistances and therapies in order to continuously improve treatment options.
- Training: They are also active in the training of doctors in the areas of infectious diseases and hospital hygiene.
Infectious diseases include illnesses caused by the penetration and multiplication of pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi or parasites in the body. Here are some examples:
Bacterial infections:
- Tuberculosis: Caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
- Pneumonia: Pneumonia, often caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae.
- Staphylococcal infections: Such as skin infections or MRSA.
Viral infections:
- Influenza: Caused by influenza viruses.
- HIV/AIDSHuman immunodeficiency virus.
- Hepatitis: Various types, such as hepatitis A, B, C and D, which affect the liver.
- COVID-19: Caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
Fungal infections:
- Candida infections: E.g. oral thrush or vaginal fungal infections.
- Aspergillosis: Lung infection caused by molds
Parasitic infections:
- Malaria: caused by Plasmodium parasites, transmitted by mosquitoes.
- Toxoplasmosis: Caused by the parasite Toxoplasma gondii, often transmitted by cats or contaminated food.
Zoonoses (diseases transmissible from animals to humans):
- Lyme disease: Caused by tick bites, often by Borrelia bacteria.
- Rabies: Viral disease, usually transmitted by bites from infected animals.
Sexually transmitted infections (STIs):
These diseases vary in severity, transmission route and treatment options, which makes infectiology a broad and complex specialty.
