Antibiotic-resistant pathogens are posing increasingly serious challenges for hospitals. In the new episode of the podcast “Mikroben im Visier“, immunologist Professor Jan Buer from Essen University Hospital explains how hospitals are responding to the growing threat with screening, strict hygiene measures, and artificial intelligence (AI). He also calls on politicians to invest more in infection research.

For decades, antibiotics have made bacterial infections manageable. However, more and more pathogens are developing resistance, meaning they are becoming insensitive to common medications. The consequences are particularly evident in hospitals: infections with multi-drug resistant pathogens delay healing processes, prolong hospital stays, and can be life-threatening.

The situation in the clinic is the focus of the new episode of "Mikroben im Visier," the podcast of the research alliance Leibniz INFECTIONS. This time, the guest is Professor Jan Buer, who heads the Institute of Medical Microbiology at Essen University Hospital and is a member of the Leibniz INFECTIONS scientific advisory board. He states: "It is no longer unusual for us to detect antibiotic resistances in our patients. That is our daily 'bread'." This is particularly problematic for critically ill patients who need treatment in the intensive care unit, or those who take medication that suppresses the immune system, for example, due to an organ transplant. Since Essen University Hospital is one of the leading transplantation centers in Germany, there are many severely immunocompromised patients who need special protection against resistant pathogens.

Screening, Hygiene, and Artificial Intelligence

Systematic screening is a key tool for containment. “This means that every patient admitted to our hospital is screened for such resistances.” The aim is to detect and prevent spread within the hospital at an early stage. "One pathogen we screen for, for example, is multi-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. But that also involves a lot of work. We carry out around 300,000 tests at our institute," says Buer. In addition to resistant variants of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), Gram-negative bacteria such as Acinetobacter species or intestinal bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae are also a major cause for concern. Fungal infections are also becoming more prevalent, especially in immunocompromised patients. “When resistance develops, it is usually very lethal (fatal) for the patient.”

Hygiene remains one of the most powerful weapons against the spread of pathogens: hand washing, disinfection, isolation of high-risk patients – these are simple but often crucial measures. Consistent implementation – such as hand disinfection by staff or visitors – is a constant challenge.

In addition to traditional hygiene measures, the use of digital technologies is becoming increasingly important. At Essen University Hospital, AI-based applications are used to evaluate large amounts of clinical data. These systems help doctors to identify the presence of certain pathogens more quickly and to select antibiotic therapies in a more targeted manner. The decision remains expressly the responsibility of the doctor, embedded in interdisciplinary antibiotic advisory teams.

Research into alternatives to antibiotics

In the long term, however, prevention alone is not enough. Reserve antibiotics – drugs that are only used when hardly any alternatives remain – are limited in availability, and bacteria also develop resistances against them. Research is therefore focusing on new therapeutic approaches. These include phages, i.e., viruses that specifically attack bacteria, as well as strategies that strengthen the immune system. Investigating the microbiome (the entire bacterial community) in the body also offers an option. The hope is to identify substances that are effective against infections.

Compared to other countries, Germany is "not quite as bad as people always think," according to Buer, mainly due to clear legal requirements and hygiene structures. But that alone is not enough. "We need to invest more in infection research. We need completely new therapeutic approaches for such severe infectious diseases, such as sepsis." Antibiotic development is economically unattractive but indispensable for public health. Research networks like Leibniz INFECTIONS are intended to bring science, clinic, and politics together here.

The podcast "Mikroben im Visier. Infektionen verstehen, Resistenzen besiegen!" (in German) is available on all common podcast platforms. Click here to go directly to the ninth episode.

https://mikroben-im-visier.podigee.io/9-neue-episode