Joint research project "Development of a novel concept to ensure medical care of rare, highly contagious and life-threatening diseases in main hospitals." (akronym: EKOS)

• Funded by: Federal Ministry for Education and Research (BMBF)
• Involved Persons: Prof. Dr. Uwe Rösler, Britta Magsig
• 8 partner institutions, coordination: Dr. Kratz, Robert-Koch Institute
• Funding period: 1/2017 - 12/2019

The aim of this subproject is to investigate the spread of the pathogen in hospitals by means of experiments for (re) aerosolization and decontamination by means of surrogate microorganisms of S3 or S4 pathogens. This serves the development of infrastructural and organizational prerequisites for minimizing the spread of germs in a temporary isolation area as well as the development of a corresponding pattern solution for a structurally and organizational functional hygienic management.

Working area 2: Evaluation / validation of decontamination procedures for materials, surfaces and equipment and investigation of the spread of the pathogen by means of experiments for decontamination and (re)- aerosolization

Primary objectives are to: (i) generate data on the spread of the pathogen in the KH by means of experiments for (re) aerosolization and carryover by means of surface contact; and (ii) generation of quantitative and qualitative data on the degree of inactivation / decontamination of materials and hospital equipment. This is to be investigated by means of surrogate germs (pathogens with a comparable resistance to the highly pathogenic target pathogen, but with a significantly lower pathogenicity / virulence) and partly with (attenuated, ie less pathogenic or apathogenic) vaccine strains of S3 pathogens. For these studies, an aerosol chamber, which is currently unique in Germany, is used in which the mentioned pathogens are aerosolized in a standardized manner in order to generate the corresponding data on kinetics of death, aerodynamic behavior and re-aeroslibility. In addition, the materials, equipment and treatment devices used in the isolation areas of hospitals are contaminated with these pathogens and subsequently decontaminated or disinfected with the currently available methods in order to finally evaluate these processes under these special, standardized conditions.