[Epidemiology of infection in Germany]

The epidemiology of infectious diseases has a long tradition in Germany. However, the role of research in the field of the epidemiology of infectious diseases has become less prominent since the development of chemotherapeutics and modern vaccines. Only after the appearance of AIDS and BSE, the increase of multiresistant infectious agents especially as cause of nosocomial infections and the concern about the emergence of new agents or changes in virulence and resistance patterns of known agents have increased the interest of the public and of the scientists in these areas. The restructuring of the former Federal Health Office in Germany and the foundation of a Center for Infectious Disease Epidemiology within the Robert-Koch-Institute are an opportunity to correct the structures of epidemiological research with the aim to reach internationally accepted quality again. The fundamental problems are discussed and approaches to a solution of the problems are presented.