[Infection Prevention in Anesthesiology during the SARS-CoV 2-pandemic]

It is necessary to discuss the sometimes competing goals of sufficient critical care capacity, maintenance of regular patient care, protection of medical staff, interruption of infectious chains within the general public and individual aspects of patient care in anesthesia and the operating room in times of the SARS CoV-2 pandemic, given the uncertainty of many data on which decisions need to be based. Basic hygiene remains the cornerstone of infection prevention especially when resources are sparse and SARS-CoV-2 specific additional measures need to be taken according to a risk analysis taking the dynamic of the pandemic as well as local factors into account.