The Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology (IHM) combines infection diagnostics, hospital hygiene, microbiological research and university teaching under one roof. The diagnostic laboratories of the IHM are accredited (DAkkS) and offer a comprehensive portfolio for the detection of common and rare infectious agents in combination with clinical microbiological and hospital hygiene consultation. The research at IHM addresses various facets of infections caused by pathogenic bacteria, fungi and helminths. The training of students from different disciplines in medical microbiology takes on a high priority. Special expertise beyond the region is offered by the consiliary laboratory for echinococcosis and the national reference centres for Haemophilus and meningococci as well as for invasive fungal infections.