Every two years, the Rudolf Schülke Foundation presents the Hygiene Prize to scientists who have solved specific problems in the areas of hygiene, microbiology and preventative medicine.

Until 1982 the name of the prize was "Schülke Prize". For the announcement of the year 1984 it was renamed in „Hygiene Prize of the Rudolf Schülke Foundation“ and is worth € 15,000,-.

Since 1976 a total of 34 individual applicants or work groups have received this prize.

2022

2020

M.Sc. Esther Sib, (Bonn), M.SC. Alexander Voigt (Bonn), Dr.med. Dr. agr. Ricarda Schmithausen (Bonn), Prof. Gabriele Bierbaum (Bonn)
„Antibiotic resistant bacteria and resistance genes in biofilms in clinical wastewater networks", Int J Hyg Environ Health 2019; 222(4): 655-662.

und

Dr. Lukas Wisgrill (Wien)
„Active Surveillance Cultures and Targeted Decolonization Are Associated with Reduced Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus aureus Infections in VLBW Infants", Neonatology 2017;112:267-273.

2018

Bernhard Krismer (Tübingen), Andreas Peschel (Tübingen), Alexander Zipperer (Tübingen)
„Human commensals producing a novel antibiotic impair pathogen colonization“, Nature 2016; 535: 511-516 Abstract

award ceremony

2015 (Prize shared)

Tim Maisch, BSc (Photodynamik Forschungsgruppe Regensburg) (Regensburg)
"Fast and Effective Photodynamic Inactivation of Multiresistant Bacteria by Cationic Riboflavin Derivates", PLoS ONE 2014 9(12): e111792

and

Matthias Willmann, MD (Tübingen)
"Analysis of a long-term outbreak of XDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa: a molecular epidemiological study”  , J Antimicrob Chemother 2015; 70: 1322–1330

2013 (prize shared)

Prof Dr Oliver Schildgen (Cologne), Dr Verena Schildgen (Cologne), Dr Jessica Lüsebrink (Cologne)
"Detection of Head-to-Tail DNA Sequences of Human Bocavirus in Clinical Samples",
PLOS one 2011; 6: e19457

and

Dr Christian Mair (Innsbruck), Prof Dr Markus Nagl (Innsbruck)
"N-Chlorotaurine, a Long-Lived Oxidant Produced by Human Leukocytes, Inactivates Shiga Toxin of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia Coli", PLOS one 2012; 7: e47105

award ceremony

2011 (prize shared)

Prof Dr Franz Allerberger (Vienna)
"Listeriosis. A resurgent foodborne infection", Clin Microbiol Infect 2010; 16: 16-23

and

Dr Eike Steinmann (Hanover), Dr Jochen Steinmann (Bremen), Dr Jörg Steinmann (Essen)
"How Stable Is the Hepatitis C Virus (HCV)? Environmental Stability of HCV and Its Susceptibility to Chemical Biocides", J Infect Dis 2010; 201: 1859-1866

award ceremony

2009 (prize shared)

PD Alexander Friedrich, MD (Münster)
“EUREGIO MRSA-Net Twente / Münsterland – A Dutch-German Cross-Border Network for the Prevention and Control of Infections caused by Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus”, Eurosurveillance 2008; 13: 1-5

and

PD Dr Arne Simon (Bonn)
"Healthcare-associated infections in pediatric cancer patients: results of a prospective surveillance study from university hospitals in Germany and Switzerland”
BMC Infectious Diseases 2008; 70: 1-10

award ceremony

2007 (prize shared)

Iris F. Chaberny, MD (Hanover), Dorit Sohr , MD(Berlin), Prof Henning Rüden, MD (Berlin), Prof Petra Gastmeier, MD (Hanover)
“Development of a Surveillance System for Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in German Hospitals”, Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2007; 28: 446-452

and

Dr Christine Goffinet (Heidelberg), Ina Allespach, (Heidelberg), PD Dr Oliver Keppler (Heidelberg)
“HIV-susceptible transgenic rats allow rapid preclinical testing of antiviral compounds targeting virus entry or reverse transcription”, PNAS 2007; 104: 1015-1020

award ceremony

2005

Prof Martin Mielke, MD (Berlin), Dr Karin Lemmer (Berlin), Prof Dr Georg Pauli (Berlin),
Dr Michael Beekes (Berlin)
“Decontamination of surgical instruments from prion proteins: in vitro studies on the detachment, destabilization and degradation of PrPSC bound to steel surfaces”, J Gen Virol 2004; 85: 3805-3816

award ceremony

2003 (prize shared)

Dr Stefan Reuter (Ulm), Dr Anja Sigge (Ulm), Prof Manfred Trautmann, MD (Stuttgart)
"Analysis of transmission pathways of Pseudomonas aeruginosa between patients and tap water outlets" Crit Care Med. 2002; 30: 2222-2228

and

Prof Dr Franz-Josef Schmitz (Minden)
"mecA Gene Is Widely Disseminated in Staphylococcus aureus Population"
J Clin Microbiol. 2002; 11: 3970-3975
and
"Increased Prevalence of Class I Integrons in Escherichia coli, Klebsiella Species, and Enterobacter Species Isolates over a 7-Year Period in a German University Hospital"
J Clin Microbiol. 2001; 10: 3724-3726

2001 (prize shared)

Dr Arie H. Havelaar (Bilthoven)
„Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Drinking Water Disinfection: Disability Adjusted Life-Years on the Scale”, Environ Health Perspec. 2000; 108: 315-321

and

Klaus Roth (Tübingen), Prof Dr Peter Heeg (Tübingen), Dr Rudolf Reichel (Reutlingen)
„Qualitätssicherung bei der Aufbereitung von Zubehör für flexible Endoskope - Wie sauber sind gereinigte Instrumente wirklich? Zentr Steril. 1999; 7: 84-96

award ceremony

1999 (prize shared)

PD Dr Christof von Eiff (Münster)
„Small-Colony Variants von Staphylococcus aureus”, J Bacteriol. 179 1997; 15: 4706-4712 und Clin Infect Dis. 1997; 25: 1250-1251

and

Dr Andreas Roggenkamp (Munich)
„Diagnostik neuer schwerkultivierbarer Erreger“, J Clin Microbiol. 1998 (Themenkomplex mit drei Arbeiten)

and

Prof Didier Pittet, MD (Genf)
„Compliance with handwashing in a teaching hospital“, Ann Int Med. 1999; 130: 126-130
and
„Bacterial contamination of the hands of hospital staff during routine patient care“
Arch Int Med. 1999

1997 (prize shared)

PD Christian Bogdan, MD (Erlangen)
„Reactivation of Latent Leishmaniasis by Inhibition of Inducible Nitric Oxide Synthase”,
J Exp Med. 1996; 183: 1501-14

and

Dr Andrea Kurz (Vienna), Dr Reinhardt Lenhardt (Vienna), Dr Daniel I. Sessler (Reutlingen)
„Perioperative Normothermia to Reduce the Incidence of Surgical-Wound Infection and Shorten Hospitalization“, N Engl J Med. 1996; 334: 1209-1216

1995 (prize shared)

Prof Sally F. Bloomfield (London)
„Comparative testing of disinfectants using proposed European surface test methods,
Let Appl Microbiol. 1993; 1: 119-125

and

PD Dr Dietrich Mack (Hamburg)
„Characterization of transposon mutants of biofilm-producing Staphylococcus epidermidis impaired in the accumulative phase of biofilm production: genetic identification of a hexosamine-containing polysaccharide intercellular adhesin“, Infect Immun. 1994; 62: 3244-3253

1993

PD Burkhard Tümmler, MSc, MD  (Hanover)
„Nosocomial acquisition of Pseudomonas aeruginosa by cystic fibrosis patients,
J Clin Microbiol. 1991; 29: 1265-1267

1991 (prize shared)

Erik C. Böttger, MD (Hanover)
„Ein generelles Verfahren zur Sequenzermittlung bakterieller 16srRNA unter Verzicht auf klassische Klonierungsmethoden“, FEMS Microbiology Letters. 1989; 65: 171-176

and

PD M. Alexander Schmidt, MSc (Heidelberg), Wolfgang Schmidt (Heidelberg)
„Peptid-Antikörper gegen eine antigene Domäne der S2-Untereinheit inhibieren die Bindung von Pertussis-Toxin an Modellrezeptoren“, Infect Immun. 1989; 57: 3828-3833

and

Prof Günter Spicher, MSc (Berlin), Dr Jürgen Peters (Berlin)
„Wirksamkeit von Formaldehyd, Glutardialdehyd, Peressigsäure, Chloramin T (N-Chlor-4-toduolsulfonsäureamid), m-Kresol, Ethanol und Benzyldimethyldodecylammoniumbromid gegen Bakterien, die sich geronnenem Blut befinden“, Zbl Hyg. 1991; 191: 457-477

1989

Dr Heinrich Konrad Geiss (Heidelberg), Joachim Heidt (Karlsruhe)
„Klinische Infektiologie: Ein Konzept zur Bekämpfung nosokomialer Infektionen“
Hyg + Med. 1989; 14: 4-22

1987

PD Dr Martin Exner, MD (Bonn), Dr Georg-J. Tuschewitzki, MSc (Bonn), Jutta Scharnagl (Bonn)
„Beeinflussung von Biofilmen durch chemische Desinfektionsmittel und mechanische Reinigung“
Zbl Bakt B 1987; 183: 549-563

1984 (prize shared)

Prof Hans Reber, MD (Basel), Prof Dr Rainer Andermatten (Basel)
„Methoden zur Prüfung von Flächendesinfektionsverfahren unter Anwendungsbedingungen“

and

Prof Dr Hans-Günter Sonntag, MD (Heidelberg), Dr Volker Hingst, MD (Heidelberg),
Karin-Gisela Dietrich (Heidelberg)
„Untersuchungen zum serologischen Nachweis Resistenz-assoziierter Oberflächenstrukturen bei Pseudomonas aeruginosa-Stämmen unter experimentell gesteigerter und rückgebildeter Formaldehydresistenz“, Hyg + Med 1982; 7: 363-370

1982

Prof Manfred Rotter, MD (Vienna), Walter Koller, MD (Vienna), Günther Wewalka, MD (Vienna)
„Eignung von Chlorhexidinglukonat- und PVP-Jod-haltigen Präparationen zur Händedesinfektion“
Hyg + Med 1981; 6: 425-430

1980

Prof Günter Spicher, MSc (Berlin), Dr Jürgen Peters (Berlin)
„Wirksamkeitsprüfung von Desinfektionsmitteln an Oberflächen in Modellversuchen“
Zbl Bakt Hyg B 1980; 170: 431-448

1976

Prof Joachim Borneff, MD (Mainz), Heinz-Peter Werner, MD (Mainz)
„Entwicklung einer neuen Prüfmethode zu Flächendesinfektionsverfahren“