Electrified bacteria: Method developed for faster determination of antibiotic resistance

"The results are available to us after just five to ten hours"

24-Apr-2024 - The increase in antibiotic-resistant pathogens and the associated treatment, which is a major problem in public healthcare facilities, is the subject of a research project at Furtwangen University. "The number of resistant bacterial species is growing faster than new antibiotics are being ...

Tracking down minorities in kitchen sponges

First study on non-bacterial microbiota in used kitchen sponges

13-Jun-2022 - With up to 54 billion bacteria per cubic centimetre, used kitchen sponges have one of the densest populations of microbes of all household utensils. Despite their popularity, in reality dishwashing sponges make little sense as kitchen cleaning utensils from a hygiene point of view since they can ...

Plasticizers can cause asthma and allergies

Study shows how blood formation in the bone marrow is affected

11-Nov-2021 - The plasticizer DEHP has long been associated with the development of asthma. Until now, what was known is that the plasticizer increases allergic reaction in the lungs. Researchers at Furtwangen University have now found that DEHP also affects the blood formation of stem cells in the bone ...

Listening in on laundry germs as they grow

First metatranscriptome study for washed laundry

08-Sep-2021 - Germans wash more than 5 kg of laundry per week. What many people don‘t realize is that even freshly washed laundry still contains significant amounts of microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi. A group of researchers led by Prof. Dr. Markus Egert at Furtwangen University (HFU) has been ...

Microbes on microscope eyepieces: could mean one in the eye for users!

Microscope oculars as carriers of infectious pathogens?

29-May-2020 - "For once we wanted to use our microscopes, not to help us observe microorganisms, but to examine more closely their role as potential vectors of infectious pathogens. Very little was known about this until now," explains the head of the study, Prof. Dr. Markus Egert, a lecturer in microbiology ...

Kitchen sponge microbiome: What doesn't kill you, makes you tougher!

Is it a good idea to clean the sponge by heating it in the microwave?

20-May-2020 - During the corona crisis, household and kitchen hygiene is particularly important as many people are at home more, and are cooking for themselves more often, but at the same time are very conscious of the need to protect themselves from other infectious diseases. Kitchen sponges are real germ ...

Microflora of glasses: the mini universe on your nose

31-Mar-2020 - Almost every second European wears glasses. Due to their central position on our face, close to our mouth and nose, and to their regular contact with skin, particularly our hands, glasses have been proven to be frequently contaminated with microorganisms. Furtwangen University has now published ...

Washing machine bacteria: the smell comes from the rubber seal

16-Jan-2020 - Almost every household in Germany has a washing machine. But what many owners don't realise is that washing machines, which are supposed to clean textiles, can actually be full of germs. Dampness, heat and a large variety of nutrients create ideal living conditions for the growth of bacteria. ...

Wearing glasses – a health risk?

03-Dec-2018 - Can I infect myself with my own glasses? And how should I clean them to keep the risk of infection to a minimum? Glasses are in regular contact with hands and skin – but until now almost nothing was known about the microbial colonization of these everyday objects. Now, for the first time, a study ...