Günter Kampf

Universität Greifswald

Two-percent glutaraldehyde has sufficient bactericidal and yeasticidal activity in 3 min, mycobactericidal activity in 10 min and fungicidal activity in 30 min. The antimicrobial activity of glutaraldehyde is explained by protein coagulation and inhibition of macromolecular synthesis. Cell wall and membrane modifications are cellular defence mechan...

Peracetic acid has bactericidal activity (1.6%, 3–5 min), yeasticidal activity (0.25%, 1 min) and tuberculocidal activity (0.25% in 1 min). However, some food-associated fungi and Mycobacterium spp. are not sufficiently killed under these conditions. The antimicrobial activity of peracetic acid is explained by non-specific oxidation and disruption...

Hydrogen peroxide has bactericidal (0.3%, 30 min) and yeasticidal (3%, 10 min) activity against most species, but an inconsistent fungicidal and mycobactericidal activity. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by oxidation of cellular components and damage to the cytoplasmatic membrane. Peroxidases and catalases, encoded by various genes, are imp...

Instrument disinfectants can be based on different types of biocidal active substances such as benzalkonium chloride, DDAC, glutaraldehyde, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite. Validated reprocessing of non-critical and semi-critical medical devices is expected to provide a health benefit to patients. A low adaptive response c...

Wound and mucosal antiseptics can be based on chlorhexidine digluconate, polyhexanide, hydrogen peroxide, sodium hypochlorite, povidone iodine or octenidine dihydrochloride. Silver can also be used as an antimicrobial agent in wound treatment, for example, in wound dressings. A health benefit can be expected at least in patients with infected or cr...

Polihexanide (PHMB) is mostly bactericidal at 0.016–0.02% (1 h) and yeasticidal at 0.1% (5 min). Fungicidal and mycobactericidal activity is species dependent. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by membrane damage. Cellular defence mechanisms include biodegradation of PHMB in A. westerdijkiae, Sphingomonas spp. and Azospirillum spp., tolerance...

Antimicrobial soaps are usually based on chlorhexidine digluconate, povidone iodine, triclosan, benzalkonium chloride, DDAC, octenidine dihydrochloride, polyhexanide or sodium hypochlorite. Evidence of a health benefit is inconsistent. Routine antiseptic body washing of ICU patients appears to prevent catheter-associated bloodstream infections, and...

Sodium hypochlorite has bactericidal (5000 mg/l, 30 min) and yeasticidal (1000 mg/l, 5 min) activity. Tuberculocidal activity was reported at 1000 mg/l available chlorine in 10 min. The antimicrobial effect of sodium hypochlorite is explained by damage to cellular components and disruption of cell membranes. Cell defence occurs through energy conse...

Octenidine dihydrochloride (OCT), usually in combination with 2% phenoxyethanol, is bactericidal (1 min) and yeasticidal (30 s–2 min) at 0.1%. Its mycobactericidal activity is unknown. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by membrane disruption and alteration of cellular structural integrity. Cellular defence mechanisms include efflux pumps in A...

Propan-2-ol has sufficient bactericidal activity at 70% in 15 s, yeasticidal activity at 50% in 5 min, incomplete fungicidal activity at 70% in 10 min and tuberculocidal activity at 60% in 5 min. The antimicrobial effect of propan-2-ol is explained by the non-specific denaturation of proteins and deformation of membranes. No specific cellular defen...

For biocides and disinfectants, terms such as “resistance”, “tolerance”, “decreased susceptibility”, “reduced susceptibility”, “insusceptibility” and “acquired reduced susceptibility” are used. On the basis of a recent proposal, isolates with increased MIC values compared to reference strains of the same species and isolates that are insufficiently...

Triclosan at 1% is mostly bactericidal (3 min) and yeasticidal (1 min). Mycobactericidal activity is unknown. The antimicrobial effect of triclosan is explained by blocking the enoyl acyl carrier protein reductase and by affecting several cellular processes. Efflux pumps, membrane and gene expression changes, and the use of triclosan as the sole ca...

Surface disinfectants can be based on different types of biocidal active substances such as benzalkonium chloride, DDAC, glutaraldehyde, alcohols, hydrogen peroxide, silver (mostly in combination with hydrogen peroxide), peracetic acid and sodium hypochlorite. A health benefit was reported only in outbreak situations or in special care units for pr...

Chlorhexidine digluconate (CHG) is bactericidal at 2–4% (5 min) except Enterococcus spp., S. epidermidis, MRSA and P. stuartii and yeasticidal at 2% (5 min). General mycobactericidal activity is not expected. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by cell adsorption resulting in precipitation of bacterial cytoplasm. Cellular defence mechanisms inc...

Propan-1-ol has sufficient bactericidal activity at 60% in 15 s and yeasticidal activity at 85% in 30 s. Some food-associated fungi require at least a 5 min exposure time. Mycobactericidal activity of propan-1-ol has not been reported. The antimicrobial effect of propan-1-ol is explained by the non-specific denaturation of proteins and deformation...

Alcohol-based skin antiseptics are based on ethanol, propan-2-ol or propan-1-ol. Some products contain additional non-volatile biocidal active substances such as chlorhexidine digluconate, benzalkonium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, povidone iodine or octenidine dihydrochloride. Currently, only chlorhexidine digluconate has a proven health benefit (p...

Povidone iodine (7.5–10%) is mostly bactericidal in 30 s and yeasticidal in 2 min. Tuberculocidal activity can be found with 1% available iodine in 1 min. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by irreversible protein coagulation, metabolic inhibition and pore formation in the cell wall. No specific cellular defence mechanisms have been described....

Alcohol-based hand rubs are usually based on ethanol, propan-2-ol or propan-1-ol. Some contain additional non-volatile biocidal active substances such as chlorhexidine digluconate, triclosan, benzalkonium chloride, hydrogen peroxide, DDAC, polihexanide, peracetic acid or octenidine dihydrochloride. For the additional biocidal active substances, alm...

Ethanol has a comprehensive bactericidal and yeasticidal activity at 78–85% within 30 s, whereas some food-associated fungi require at least 10 min. Ethanol has also mycobactericidal activity at ≥70% within 30 s to 5 min depending on the species and ethanol concentration. The antimicrobial effect of ethanol is explained by the non-specific coagulat...

Biofilms are a complex structure of bacteria and a matrix consisting of proteins (e.g. adhesive pili), polysaccharides, extracellular DNA and enzymes, also known as “extracellular polymeric substances”. Several types of biofilms have been described. Hydrated biofilm forms under continuously hydrated conditions and can be found in water pipes, showe...

Didecyldimethylammonium chloride (DDAC) is mostly bactericidal at 1% (1 min) and yeasticidal at 0.0525% (15 min), but not mycobactericidal. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by membrane damage. Cellular defence mechanisms include metabolisation of DDAC in P. fluorescens and efflux pumps in S. epidermidis and Serratia spp. The effect of DDAC o...

Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) is mostly bactericidal at 1% and yeasticidal at 0.2% (5 min) but not mycobactericidal. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by membrane damage and protein aggregation. Cellular defence mechanisms include various resistance genes such as qacA/B and smr (qacC) in S. aureus, cell membrane alterations and efflux pumps, ma...

Silver is a naturally occurring element and, as silver nitrate, has some bactericidal activity against selected species (3.0 log10) at 0.032 mg/l. Fungicidal or mycobactericidal activity is largely unknown. Its antimicrobial activity is explained by membrane interaction and induction of the VBNC state. Cellular defence mechanisms include various to...

The efficacy of face masking for the public is not convincing to prevent the transmission of respiratory tract viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 when the criteria of evidence-based medicine are applied. This finding is mainly explained by the results from randomized-controlled trials (RCTs) when a high prevalence of the infection and a high compliance in...

The book evaluates if some public health measures implemented in Germany such as the mask mandate, the social exclusion of the unvaccinated (“2G”) and the vaccination mandate for parts of the population were suitable and necessary to control the spread of SARS-CoV-2 so that the temporary restrictions of some fundamental human rights were justified....

Aims To evaluate a newly developed microscale quantitative suspension test compared to the existing standard suspension test using determination of the bactericidal and yeasticidal activity of glutaral as one step to improve the sustainability of disinfectant testing. Methods The testing principles of the quantitative suspension test according to...

The protective effect of COVID-19 vaccination for contact persons is controversial. Therefore, the aim of this review was to determine whether COVID-19 vaccination provides significant protection for them. A PubMed search was carried out using the terms “unvaccinated vaccinated covid” in combination with “viral load” and “transmission”. Studies wer...

It has been assumed that the COVID-19 vaccination reduces the risk of transmission to others. Results during the delta predominance show that the viral load in the vaccinated population is not consistently lower compared to the unvaccinated, and during the omicron predominance, the viral load was even somewhat higher. Levels of infectious SARS-CoV-...

COVID-19 wurde zu Beginn der Pandemie als dramatisch, sehr schlimm und historisch einmalig beschrieben. Aber war SARS-CoV-2 tatsächlich gefährlicher als Influenza- oder andere Coronaviren, die seit jeher in den Wintermonaten Infektionen verursachen? Eine vergleichende Auswertung zahlreicher Studien und offizieller Fallzahlen zeigt, dass für bei all...

Eine Impfpflicht gegen COVID-19 kann nur dann als rechtmäßig angesehen werden, wenn sie dem Schutz Dritter dient, da vorbeugende medizinische Behandlungen grundsätzlich der autonomen Entscheidung des Einzelnen unterliegen. Aber war die Impfpflicht tatsächlich geeignet, den Schutz Dritter zu erhöhen? Wurde das Übertragungsrisiko durch die Impfung st...

"Masken sind sehr wirksam". Diese Botschaft wurde während der COVID-19-Pandemie fortwährend verbreitet. Doch hat das Tragen der Maske im öffentlichen Raum tatsächlich Übertragungen von Atemwegsviren verhindert bzw. den Träger vor einer viralen Atemwegsinfektion geschützt? Reicht der Nachweis einer sehr guten Filtrationsleistung des Maskenmaterials...

Background: The methods currently used in Europe and North America to evaluate the bactericidal efficacy of hand hygiene products have some limitations, e.g., in the selection of test organisms or the method of contamination, and none of the methods allows prediction of actual clinical efficacy. WHO has therefore proposed to develop methods that b...

Die Kontaktbeschränkungen für Ungeimpfte (2G) traten in Deutschland im November 2021 in Kraft und sperrten Millionen Bürger für Monate aus dem Großteil des öffentlichen Lebens aus. Eine massive Einschränkung von Grundrechten! Ziel von 2G war es, die Infektionsdynamik von COVID-19 schnell zu beenden und eine drohende Überlastung des Gesundheitswesen...

Regulations for measures to protect against SARS-CoV-2 transmission vary widely around the world, with very strict regulations in Germany where respirators (FFP2 or comparable) are often mandatory. The efficiency of respirators, however, depends essentially on the tight facial fit avoiding the bypass of contaminated air via gaps between mask and we...

We evaluated the bactericidal efficacy of two alternative hand antiseptics, based on sodium hypochlorite or sodium hypochlorite and hypochlorous acid, compared to isopropanol on hands of volunteers artificially contaminated with E. coli using EN 1500. The reference alcohol was applied according to the norm and the study formulations were used as co...

It was recently described that the overall risk of myopericarditis after receiving a COVID-19 vaccine is low, except for younger males receiving mRNA vaccines [...]

The role of contaminated surfaces as a potential source for SARS-CoV-2 transmission has not been clear at the beginning of the pandemic. Numerous laboratory studies show that SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious at room temperature on different types of surfaces for a few days and substantially longer in the dark. A higher temperature such as 30 °C or...

Background: Most COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes are explained by transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from nurses or visitors. Methods and results: We describe an outbreak with 64 of the 67 residents identified as COVID-19 cases within two weeks (34 in nursing block 1, 30 in nursing block 2), at least 32 of them had relevant symptoms of COVID-19. Thi...

Biocide resistance is an increasing concern. However, it is currently unknown if an elevated MIC value for an isolate correlates with a lower log10 reduction in suspension tests or carrier tests. The aim of this review was therefore to evaluate if isolates with a suspected tolerance to a biocidal active substance reveal an elevated MIC value and an...

The number of human monkeypox virus infections is increasing in many countries. The typical mode of transmission is by direct contact. As orthopoxviruses may stay infectious on inanimate surfaces under laboratory conditions for up to 42 days, disinfection may be relevant in the surrounding of confirmed cases. Aim of the review was to evaluate publi...

Background The contribution of droplet-contaminated surfaces for virus transmission has been discussed controversially in the context of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Importantly, the risk of fomite-based transmission has not been systematically addressed. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate...

Background The contribution of droplet-contaminated surfaces for virus transmission has been discussed controversially in the context of the current Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic. Importantly, the risk of fomite-based transmission has not been systematically addressed. Methods We initiated this single-center...

Background: A sporicidal surface disinfection is recommended both for the outbreak and the endemic setting but a comparative evaluation on the efficacy of 'sporicidal' surface disinfectants using suspension tests and 4-field tests has not been performed. Aim: To determine the efficacy of five 'sporicidal' surface disinfectants (three ready-to-us...

Es steht nicht gut um die Freiheit der Wissenschaft. Ihre Unabhängigkeit, finanziert durch den Staat, ist normalerweise ein großer Vorteil, solange der Staat kein eigenes Interesse am Ergebnis hat. Doch in der COVID-19-Pandemie scheint das bei einzelnen Fragestellungen nicht mehr zu gelten. So wurden beispielsweise wissenschaftliche Veröffentlichun...

Structured Summary Background In the current era, the importance of proper hand hygiene to reduce the transmission of infectious diseases has become difficult to debate. Yet, compliance rates remain low and are affected by many factors amongst which user acceptability of hand hygiene products. Aim The present study aimed at investigating drivers...

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Dieses Buch ist als Standardwerk für die wesentlichen Aspekte der Flächenhygiene in allen Bereichen der Versorgung von Patienten und Heimbewohnern konzipiert. Erkenntnisse aus der internationalen wissenschaftlichen Fachliteratur werden umfassend ausgewertet und dargestellt, Fallbeispiele, Infoboxen und Abbildungen erleichtern deren Lesbarkeit. Zahl...

Contaminated surfaces have been discussed as a possible source of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2). Under experimental conditions, SARS-CoV-2 can remain infectious on surfaces for several days. However, the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 detection on surfaces in healthcare settings and the public is currently not known. A syste...

Fundamental rights are probably given back earlier to COVID-19 vaccinated individuals assuming that they cannot spread SARS-CoV-2 anymore. The objective of the study was to determine if COVID-19 vaccinated individuals can still be the source of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. PubMed was searched for studies on 4 April 2021. All studies with original data...

We evaluated the bactericidal efficacy of 2 modified WHO-recommended alcohol-based hand rubs (3 ml) after a 15 second rubbing period using two different rub-in techniques (3 vs. 6 steps). The formulation based on 80% w/w ethanol and 0.5% v/v glycerol (modified WHO I) showed a mean log10-reduction of 3.63 ± 0.87 (6 steps) and 3.80 ± 0.71 (3 steps) w...

Zahlreiche Maßnahmen wurden im Rahmen der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland verhängt. In diesem Sachbuch wird beschrieben, in welchen Körpersekreten infektiöses SARS-Coronavirus-2 nachweisbar ist, welche Erkenntnisse zu Übertragungswegen vorliegen und welche Menschen bzw. Berufsgruppen besonders gefährdet sind. Es werden Maßnahmen wie das Anlegen ei...

Zusammenfassung Maßnahmen zur Eingrenzung von SARS-CoV-2 beinhalten häufig die regelmäßige Desinfektion öffentlicher Flächen. In dieser systematischen Übersichtsarbeit wird dargelegt, wie häufig sich SARS-CoV-2 im Umfeld bestätigter Fälle auf Flächen nachweisen lässt. In 26 Studien zeigt sich, dass die RNA von SARS-CoV-2 zu 0 bis 100% auf Flächen i...

Abstract Background Cutibacterium acnes is part of the anaerobic skin microbiome and resides in deeper skin layers. The organism is an agent of surgical site infections (SSI) in shoulder surgery. We hypothesized that prolonged skin preparation with an agent that penetrates deeply into the skin would be beneficial. Thus, we compared two classes of a...

Long before the nature of infection was recognized, or the significance of biofilms in delayed healing was understood, antimicrobial agents were being used in wound care. In the last 70 years, antibiotics have provided an effective means to control wound infection, but the continued emergence of antibiotic-resistant strains and the documented antib...

Letter to the research article "Identifying airborne transmission as the dominant route for the spread of COVID-19" (https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2009637117) Open access

During the current SARS-CoV-2 pandemic new studies are emerging daily providing novel information about sources, transmission risks and possible prevention measures. In this review, we aimed to comprehensively summarize the current evidence on possible sources for SARS-CoV-2, including evaluation of transmission risks and effectiveness of applied p...

The WHO hand rub formulations have been in use around the world for at least the past ten years. The advent of COVID-19 has further enhanced their use. We reviewed published efficacy data for the original and modified formulations. Only efficacy data according to the European Norms (EN) were found. The bactericidal efficacy of the original formulat...

Es gibt keinerlei Hinweise auf SARS-CoV-2-RNA oder infektiöses SARS-CoV-2 auf Oberflächen in Schulen, Restaurants, Sportstätten und Unternehmen. Die zunehmende Verwendung aller möglichen Flächendesinfektionsmitteln in diesen Einrichtungen für das unwahrscheinliche Ereignis eines asymptomatischen COVID-19-Falls in der Nähe dieser Fläche wird wahrsch...

Zahlreiche Corona-Maßnahmen wurden im Rahmen der COVID-19-Pandemie in Deutschland schrittweise per Verordnung verhängt. Doch wie wirksam sind die einzelnen Maßnahmen, um die Übertragung von SARS-Coronavirus-2 zu verhindern? Und gibt es Risiken, die mit den Maßnahmen einhergehen? Um die Übertragungswege besser zu verstehen, wird in diesem Fachbuch b...

A few details in our Review require clarification or amendment. We described 0.5% hydrogen peroxide in various parts of the manuscript to be effective against human coronaviruses in 1 min based on the study by Omidbaksh et al. [34]. In this study however, the test product was described as hydrogen peroxide-based but in an accelerated form (ACCEL TB...

Aims: Healthcare-associated infections linked to contaminated textiles are rare but underline their potential role as a source for transmission. The aim of the review was to summarize the experimental evidence on the survival and persistence of the different types of nosocomial pathogens on textiles. Methods: A literature search was performed on Me...

Infection control instructions call for use of alcohol-based hand rub solutions to inactivate severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. We determined the virucidal activity of World Health Organization–recommended hand rub formulations, at full strength and multiple dilutions, and of the active ingredients. All disinfectants demonstrated eff...

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a huge demand of alcohol-based hand rubs, medical gloves and face masks in healthcare and in the public. More and more hospitals face a serious shortage of these articles. We propose a risk-adapted approach to ensure adequate patient and healthcare worker safety for as long as possible.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a huge demand of alcohol-based hand rubs, medical gloves, face masks and gowns in healthcare and from the public. More and more hospitals face a serious shortage of these articles. We propose a risk-adapted approach to ensure adequate patient and healthcare worker safety for as long as possible.

Published data were reviewed to find out which temperature and exposure time is necessary for inactivation of coronaviruses. Overall a thermal disinfection at 60°C for 30 min, 65°C for 15 min and 80°C for 1 min was effective to strongly reduce coronavirus infectivity by at least 4 log10.

The recent emergence of Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) causing COVID-19 is a major burden for health care systems worldwide. It is important to address if the current infection control instructions based on active ingredients are sufficient. We therefore determined the virucidal activity of two alcohol-based hand rub s...

Currently, the emergence of a novel human coronavirus, temporary named 2019-nCoV, has become a global health concern causing severe respiratory tract infections in humans. Human-to-human transmissions have been described with incubation times between 2-10 days, facilitating its spread via droplets, contaminated hands or surfaces. We therefore revie...

The novel human coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 has become a global health concern causing severe respiratory tract infections in humans. Human-to-human transmissions have been described, probably via droplets but possibly also via contaminated hands or surfaces. In a recent review on the persistence of human and veterinary coronaviruses on inanimate surfac...

Mitteilungen der kooperierenden Gesellschaften, VAH Verbund für Angewandte Hygiene e.V., Desinfektionsmittel-Kommission, Fragen und Antworten

Several guidelines recommend specific treatments for endoscopes, procedures of quarantine for endoscopes, or additional treatments for the endoscope washer disinfector (EWD) in suspected or confirmed cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD) or variant CJD (vCJD) but vary in many details. This study therefore reviewed guidelines on reprocessing flex...

Eine routinemäßige Anwendung von Desinfektionsmitteln, Biozidprodukten, Reinigern mit bioziden Wirkstoffen oder sonstigen antimikrobiell wirksamen Produkten ist aus den vorher genannten Gründen im Haushalt grundsätzlich abzulehnen. Sie können die Darmflora von Säuglingen ungünstig beeinflussen, sie können bei Säuglingen zu Übergewicht führen, sie k...

Sehr viele Menschen verwenden zuhause Produkte aus Supermärkten oder Drogerien zur Reinigung von Flächen, dem WC oder in der Küche. Ein Teil der Produkte sind Biozidprodukte, d. h. dass sie laut Herstellerangabe eine messbare antimikrobielle Wirkung aufweisen und einen oder mehrere biozide Wirkstoffe enthalten, mit denen Schadorganismen unschädlich...

Verschaffen Sie sich einen Überblick über Biozidprodukte in Ihrem Haushalt und prüfen Sie sehr genau, ob sie diese tatsächlich weiter nutzen wollen. Die Mehrzahl dieser antimikrobiellen Produkte werden Sie mit Sicherheit nicht brauchen, da sie keinen Gesundheitsnutzen bei routinemäßiger Anwendung aufweisen. Zukünftig sollten Sie auf diese Produkte...

Das Ausmaß der Wirksamkeit lässt sich grundsätzlich in zwei Bereiche einteilen, die im Wesentlichen von der Konzentration der bioziden Wirkstoffen bzw. Biozidprodukte abhängen: eine mikrobiozide und mikrobiostatische Wirkung. Diese Bereiche sind beispielhaft für einen Alkohol wie Ethanol und einem Beispielbakterium dargestellt (Abb. 4.1).

In Drogerien, Apotheken und Supermarktketten kann man zahlreiche verschiedene Biozidprodukte für unterschiedliche Anwendungen finden. Betrachten wir zunächst die Produkte, die von international tätigen Konzernen angeboten werden.