Detective work: on the trail of viruses and bacteria
The Corona pandemic is an extraordinary challenge for the team of Annelies Zinkernagel, Director of the Clinic for Infectiology and Hospital Hygiene. However, it also presents an opportunity to anchor hygiene measures even more firmly in everyday hospital life.
Ms. Zinkernagel, what is a typical working day like as a detective tracking down germs at the University Hospital Zurich?
If a patient is referred to us on a consultative basis, we establish a differential diagnosis and derive a diagnostic proposal from this, followed by a therapy proposal. If the results are positive, the therapy is adapted or adjusted if necessary. If an outbreak is detected in the hospital, we search for the origin of the outbreak and, if necessary, are responsible for isolating and screening the patients.
How is it usually detected at an early stage and ruled out that, for example, a flu virus spreads further if employees fall ill among themselves but do not show any symptoms?
In the USZ - even long before Covid-19 - the standard hygiene measures apply, such as observing hand hygiene, staying at home in case of cold and flu symptoms, etc. Symptomless employees and patients are not tested for the flu. Covid-19 is different: all patients are tested for the virus upon hospital admission.
In the case of resistance to antibiotics, what influences the use of so-called reserve antibiotics against multidrug-resistant germs? What are factors for absolute emergencies?
Fortunately, there are relatively few multi-resistant germs in Switzerland. Antibiotic reserves only have to be used very rarely in our latitudes - when we have to treat a bacterial infection caused by a multi-resistant bacterium.
What is currently the most important issue for the University Hospital Zurich in terms of infection prevention and the protection of patients who are particularly at risk?
At the moment, of course, much of the focus is on Covid-19. Time and again, we are concerned with resistant microorganisms that are difficult to eliminate.
What happens during the isolation phase?
Isolation is used to protect people from a microorganism spreading to other people. Since Covid-19, everyone in the USZ and many people in everyday life have been wearing a mask, keeping their distance and taking care of their hand hygiene. As a result, there are practically no flu infections this year. So the measures are working!
