MALDI-TOF and FT-IR technologies provide a game-changing approach to infection control at the University Hospital Heidelberg

Dr. Stefan Zimmermann, Head of Bacteriology at the University Hospital Heidelberg, discusses cutting-edge developments in spectroscopy-based technologies aimed at improving infection control. From pioneering MALDI-TOF applications to leveraging the Bruker IR Biotyper^®, powered by FT-IR spectroscopy, and its IR Tracker™ software feature, Zimmermann highlights how these innovations simplify microbial strain analysis, enhance outbreak detection, and accelerate decision-making in hospital hygiene. By integrating machine learning and phenotypic profiling, the IR Biotyper^® provides rapid, cost-effective insights, offering a promising solution for combating healthcare associated infections (HAIs), antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and refining microbiology in the hospital environment. These advancements could revolutionize infection control worldwide.

SelectScience interview filmed at ESCMID Global 2025 in Vienna, Austria.