News Archive

The aim of this project is to develop a standardized microbiological test method to determine the potential for emergence of resistance and cross-resistance in the use of surface disinfectants and antimicrobial surfaces. The focus is on the emergence of resistance to disinfectants and material protection agents through de novo mutations. These resistances may pose a particular risk because they confer cross-resistance to antibiotics.
Disinfectants and antimicrobial material coatings are approved under the EU Biocides Regulation. The regulation provides for assessment of the risk of emergence of resistance and cross-resistance, but currently lacks standardized test methods to provide a framework for assessment by industrial applicants and assessing authorities. The test method to be developed in the project, based on efficacy tests for surface disinfection (DIN EN 13697:2019 and the DIN EN 16615:2015), will allow biocide manufacturers to have their product tested for resistance development by independent testing institutes. The results will enable authorities to make a better assessment of resistance risk in the context of authorization under the EU Biocides Regulation.
 
The work is being carried out in cooperation with the Federal Institute for Materials Research and Testing (BAM).

For some time now, our company purchasing green electricity from the Hamburg-based provider Lichtblick. The electricity is generated 100% from hydropower. We also purchase natural gas from Lichtblick - through a climate protection project in Ghana, the CO2 emissions generated will be compensated. 
In this way, we save 55.81 tons of CO2 annually.
In addition, Lichtblick supports social projects such as Hamburg Leuchtfeuer with the "Kiezstrom" initiative together with FC St. Pauli von 1910 e.V..

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)

Patented process developed for hygiene training: Making germs, transmission paths and disinfection visible, thereby improving hygiene compliance.

Germs are invisible...Unknowingly, this can create a deceptive feeling of security. After all, the transmission of microorganisms from one surface to the next happens in secret.

But it is precisely this mechanism that must be consciously demonstrated in hygiene training courses, so that correct behavior can then be anchored and successfully transferred into practice. A white surface - the trainer takes a colorless spray and sprays it on the surface: blue dots gradually appear in front of the participants' eyes - astonishment and questioning looks... are these the germs that are on the surface?

Now the leader uses the blue "germs" to illustrate transmission paths: from a surface via gloved hands to the sterile packaging of a venous catheter and on to the arm of a patient manikin.

After appropriate explanations, the next "aha effect" follows. The success of disinfection becomes visible: Another colorless solution - applicable as a spray or cloth soaking solution - makes the blue "germs" disappear again before the eyes of the participants. However, this is only possible if the correct technique is used and the surfaces are sufficiently wetted. Neither UV light nor a darkened room are necessary: The deceptively real simulation takes place in daylight and in front of a large audience. This is made possible by the HyTrain® training set - a new and patented training system. 

Depending on the field of activity, many practical processes can be simulated with the HyTrain® training set: specifically for doctors, nurses and cleaning staff. The visual power of the demonstration makes any language barriers of the participants less important. Even the effectiveness of hand disinfection can be demonstrated on gloved hands. The HyTrain® training set was recently patented.

Further information: www.hytrain.de

©HyTrain GmbH

As of today, recordings of the webinar series "Online Update Hygiene and Infection Prevention: COVID-19" are available on the Dr. Brill Academy website. HERE you can access the recordings. 

Dear customers and partners,

2020 was a challenging year for all of us, in business and in our private lives. This was also the case for the Dr. Brill Group. We have been able to adapt quickly to the new situation and have conducted many video conferences, but personal contact is often missing. In any case, I am proud of my team how we have mastered this and even managed to not only maintain but also expand our capacities under these difficult conditions.We would like to thank all our customers and cooperation partners for the great cooperation, all the flexibility and we are looking forward to 2021, then hopefully with personal meetings again.

I wish you, your families and your teams health and success for 2021 and us a continued good cooperation.

Best regards,

Florian Brill

Tel Aviv is considered to be a pioneer in the field of digital health. 

In a blog post by hamburg2040, Dr. Florian Brill addressed the question of what Hamburg can learn from Tel Aviv in the field of digital health. 

Click here to read the article: 

Am 24.11.2020 von 10:00 – 12:00 Uhr findet der "Virtuelle Biofouling Workshop" statt. Eine gute Möglichkeit, um die aktuellen Entwicklungen und Innovationen zum Thema Biofouling aus verschiedenen Perspektiven zu betrachten und zu diskutieren. Als Sprecher ist unter anderem Bernd Daehne aus unserem Hause mit dem Thema: "Testmethoden zur Erprobung innovativer Antifouling-Systeme" vertreten.
Bis zum 22.11.2020 können Sie sich  HIER zum Workshop anmelden. 

Das Programm:

10:00 Uhr: Begrüßung Dr. Susanne Neumann, Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e. V.

10:05 Uhr: Vorstellung der Marktübersicht „Lösungsansätze gegen Biofouling an Schiffsrümpfen“ Dr. Rainer Henking, EurA AG Eva von Soosten, Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e. V.

10:20 Uhr: Anforderungen an Biofouling-Systeme aus Sicht der Anwender Jürgen Gerdes, Maritime Engineering & Solutions GmbH

10:35 Uhr: Erforschung innovativer Antifouling-Systeme am Beispiel des Projektes FoulLas: Fouling-Entfernung von maritimen Oberflächen mittels Laserstrahlung unter Wasser Dr.-Ing. Benjamin Emde, Laser Zentrum Hannover e.V.

10:50 Uhr: Testmethoden zur Erprobung innovativer Antifouling-Systeme Bernd Daehne, Dr. Brill + Partner GmbH

11:05 Uhr: Aktuelle Entwicklungen in regionalen, nationalen und internationalen Gremien Dr. Katja Broeg, BSH Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie

11:20 Uhr: Roadmap Biofouling – Kollaborative Wege zu praxisorientierten Lösungen Dr. Rainer Henking, EurA AG

11:35 Uhr: Fragen und Diskussion

11:55 Uhr: Zusammenfassung der Veranstaltung und Abschluss Eva von Soosten, Maritimes Cluster Norddeutschland e. V.

12:00 Uhr: Ende der Veranstaltung Im Anschluss Offener Austausch Alle Interessierten 

On Friday and Saturday, October 23 and 24, 2020, the jetty of the Norderney Sailing Club (SVN) was taken out of the water and cleaned. A filter system developed by Dr. Brill + Partner and the SVN was tested to remove biocides and paint residues from the antifouling paints. The four-stage filter system, consisting of sedimentation tank, fiber peat filter and activated carbon filter, was installed directly next to the "wash place" to filter the wash water on the spot and thus prevent the antifouling biocides from getting into the environment.

In the course of the day, weak points of the system could be identified and eliminated. It turned out that the wash water was produced faster than it could be filtered. This was remedied by a 4 m3 container, which was spontaneously made available free of charge by the Onnen company and acted as a buffer storage. It also showed that the water produced contained significantly more suspended solids and sediments than expected. The suspended matter settled faster than expected on the felt mats used and hindered the flow of the water. As a result, the felt mats were replaced with gauze, which prevented clogging, so that the filter worked properly again.

The filtered wash water was then discharged into the dock. Visually, a clear filter performance was visible, the analysis results are still pending.

Due to the current corona measures we modified the format of this year's CAHMV. For the first time the CAHMV will take place as an online event only. To be able to realise this, we had to make some program changes. Information about the program and registration can be found on our event page (https://brillhygiene.com/en/akademie/termine/online-6th-conference-applied-hygiene-microbiology-and-virology). 
Due to these changes, the ticket price could be reduced significantly. 
Despite the circumstances we are looking forward to an informative CAHMV! If you have any questions, please contact us. 

Ethanol is one of the most widely used active ingredients for hand disinfection and has proven itself for decades for this purpose. According to the current Bioziod legislation, ethanol as an active ingredient must nevertheless be re-evaluated and approved. Currently, there is a risk that ethanol will no longer be available as an active ingredient in the future. 

The VAH has mandated and coordinated a statement on this issue, which is supported by many institutions. You can download the statement under the following link: Download Statement

Plastic waste and microplastics are probably the most discussed environmental topics at the moment besides global warming. On September 19, 2020, the staff of our Institute for Antifouling and Biocorrosion on Norderney participated again in the International Ocean Cleanup Day.

The campaign was carried out together with the local BUND district group and the seventh-grade students from Norderney, who were also introduced to the habitat and waste problem. The Norderney public swimming pool and the technical services supported the action with man and machine. Fishing nets made of plastic accounted for the largest share of the stranded garbage. However, blankets and clothing from 342 containers of MS ZOE, lost at the beginning of 2019, were also found. In addition, numerous packages and containers, some from faraway countries, paint rollers, car spoilers, toilet covers and brushes, but also a whale rib and a message in a bottle were found. For more than 30 years, the US environmental organization Ocean Conservancy has been calling for the largest voluntary marine protection campaign - the International Coastal Cleanup Day

(https://oceanconservancy.org/trash-free-seas/international-coastal-cleanup/).