Founded in Hamburg 15 years ago, the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER has established itself as a scientific center of excellence for disinfection, hygiene and infection prevention. Its mission has remained unchanged: to systematically improve patient and infection protection based on robust scientific evidence.
Today, the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER has established itself as one of the leading points of contact for hygiene managers in the healthcare sector and supports healthcare professionals in hospitals, outpatient facilities and public institutions by translating complex scientific findings into practical, applicable knowledge for everyday (clinical) practice.
The HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER sees itself as a central interface between research, product development and practice. Its key areas of focus include hand and surface disinfection, skin antiseptics, nosocomial infections, compliance barriers and the optimization of hygiene-related workflows in medicine and nursing.
Support in exceptional situations plays a particular role. During the COVID-19 pandemic, it became clear just how important reliable expert guidance is. The HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER provided information on the correct use of disinfectants at an early stage. Through a combination of applied research and close collaboration with internal and external networks of experts, the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER ensures that hygiene knowledge is not only scientifically sound but also directly applicable in everyday practice.
At the heart of the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER’s work are close scientific collaborations with renowned research institutions, professional societies, and national and international experts in hospital hygiene and infection control.
In addition, the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER conducts its own studies, surveys and analyses, thereby actively contributing to the generation of new scientific evidence. These findings form the basis for recommendations, standards and professional discourse within the hygiene community.
‘Thanks to our close collaboration with professional associations and renowned institutions in the field of clinical hygiene and infection prevention, we are always at the cutting edge of our field. This enables us to set standards and provide impetus, making a lasting contribution to improving infection control,’ says Dr Heide Niesalla, Head of the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER.
The HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER makes targeted use of modern, digital communication formats to convey hygiene knowledge in a contemporary and accessible way. Videos play a central role in this, including short, concise ‘knowledge nuggets’ that present complex hygiene topics in an understandable and visual format. A constantly growing collection of expert videos is available on the center’s own YouTube channel – covering topics such as hand and surface hygiene, disinfection standards and current challenges in infection control.
This offering is complemented by visual educational resources such as posters and infographics, which present scientific content and regulatory guidelines in a way that is easy to understand for training and practical use. Many of these materials appear as supplements in the specialist journal DESINFACTS and are also available to download from the organization’s website or for printing, including pathogen posters with key information on transmission routes and hygiene measures. The HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER provides information via its own website, specialist publications, newsletters, symposia and specialist events. In addition, a personal specialist advisory service is available. It offers support with questions regarding the application and material compatibility of disinfection products, as well as hygiene measures and other general topics relating to infection control.
Hygiene and infection control will remain a key issue in the future. And although technologies, pathogens and communication channels are constantly evolving, one central challenge remains: the need for reliable, evidence-based hygiene knowledge.
For the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER, this means continuing to work closely with healthcare practitioners, generating scientific evidence and translating this into understandable, accessible formats – today and in the future.
