Dr. Stephan Harbarth reflects on the success of his “hospital diplomat” approach to epidemiology

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine

Professor Stephan Harbarth reflects on a career spanning clinical medicine, infectious diseases, and healthcare epidemiology, highlighting why infection prevention and control became his central focus. His background includes training in Germany and research and postgraduate epidemiology studies at Harvard, followed by leadership in infection prevention and control at Geneva University Hospitals. His research targets antibiotic-resistant infections, nosocomial transmission such as MRSA and ESBL-producing organisms, and molecular and pharmaco-epidemiologic strategies, including EU-funded studies and large-scale collaborations.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

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Careers

Academic and clinical path

Research focus and collaborations

Reflections on infection prevention and control

Antimicrobial Stewardship & Healthcare Epidemiology (2026), 6, e11, 1–3 doi:10.1017/ash.2025.10256 Careers Dr. Stephan Harbarth reflects on the success of his “hospital diplomat” approach to epidemiology Stephan Jurgen Harbarth MD, MS Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland Abstract Professor Stephan Harbarth obtained his medical degree from the University of Munich in 1993 . He completed postgraduate training in internal medicine and infectious diseases in both Munich and Geneva. After serving as a clinical research fellow in infectious diseases at Geneva University Hospitals(HUG), he pursued postgraduate studies in epidemiology at Harvard School ofPublic Health, earning a Master of Science in Epidemiology in 1999 . He continued his research activities at Children’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School until 2001 . In April 2007, he was appointed Attending Physician in the Infection Prevention and Control Service (SPCI) at HUG and also served as a consultant in the Infectious Diseases Service. He became head of the SPCI in October 2022 . A Privat-docent at the Faculty of Medicine since 2006, Professor Harbarth was appointed Associate Professor in 2010 and Full Professor in 2018. His research focuses on the epidemiology and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections, as well as on antibiotic stewardship. A renowned expert in this field, he serves on numerous national and international expert committees. His work has received multiple awards, including the prestigious Robert Koch Award in 2022 for hospital hygiene and infection prevention. His research group focuses on clinical and epidemiological studies aimed at addressing key issues related to the control of acquisition, transmission, and infection by multidrug-resistant organisms, as well as the associated clinical and public health burden. His work on the impact and control of nosocomial transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and extended-spectrum betalactamases (ESBL)-producing organisms has significantly improved strategies to combat these pathogens. His additional research interests include the molecular epidemiology of emerging bacteria, pharmaco-epidemiology and antibiotic optimization, and the rapid diagnosis of severe infections. He has been involved in several large-scale, EU-funded studies (REVERSE, ECRAID, COMBACTE) and led the major European project “Drive-AB,” which coordinated over 20 public and private partner institutions across 12 European countries to address this public health threat. Professor Stephan Harbarth was included in the Highly Cited Researchers™ 2022 list. (Received 27 November 2025; accepted 3 December 2025) Your career has spanned clinical medicine, infectious diseases, and epidemiology. What initially drew you to the field of infection prevention and control, and how did your time at Harvard shape your research perspective? I trained in Germany at a time when there was no formal specialty of infectious diseases. I started looking for places to train, which led me to Geneva in the mid-90s. At that time, everyone was focused on HIV and AIDS research, and one of the most prominent leaders in our field, Didier Pittet, had just returned from the United States. He was looking for a fellow, and surprisingly, no one was interested in joining him. I said,“OK.” Because I was always interested in prevention and clinical research, I thought, why not join his group? That’s how I ended up in infection prevention and control (IPC). But to be honest, I didn’t wake up one morning during medical school thinking,“I have togo Email: [stha@hug.ch](stha@hug.ch) Cite this article: Harbarth SJ. Dr. Stephan Harbarth reflects on the success of his“hospital diplomat” approach to epidemiology. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol 2026. doi: 10. 1017/ash.2025.10256 into infection control.” It was a natural evolution that led me to finding my “holy grail” in IPC. Regarding th

FAQs

What educational and training steps shaped Stephan Harbarth’s career in epidemiology?

He earned his medical degree in Munich, completed postgraduate training in internal medicine and infectious diseases in Munich and Geneva, and then studied epidemiology at Harvard. He continued research activities at Children’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School before taking leadership roles in Geneva.

How does the “hospital diplomat” approach relate to his work in infection prevention and control?

His work emphasizes prevention and clinical research, with a focus on translating epidemiology into effective strategies for controlling acquisition, transmission, and infection by multidrug-resistant organisms. The narrative links his perspective to effective engagement and leadership in hospital-based infection prevention.

What are the key areas of his research on antibiotic-resistant and hospital-acquired infections?

His research addresses epidemiology and prevention of antibiotic-resistant infections and antibiotic stewardship, including the impact and control of nosocomial transmission of MRSA and ESBL-producing organisms. He also works on molecular epidemiology, pharmaco-epidemiology, antibiotic optimization, and rapid diagnosis of severe infections.

Sep 29, 2026

Uploaded by Jasmine