The goals of infection control are to

• to prevent communicable diseases in humans,
• detect infections early, and
• prevent their spread.

This is one of the tasks of the Public Health Service (ÖGD). This term refers to all government agencies that combat health threats, prevent diseases, and promote health.

Public health departments are part of the Public Health Service. They provide individualized advice on infection control topics, such as

• vaccinations,
• tuberculosis,
• sexually transmitted diseases,
• HIV/AIDS,
• hygiene regulations.

In addition, the Public Health Service provides general information on specific infectious diseases. For example, it addresses the following questions:

• How should you respond in an emergency?
• What are the modes of transmission?
• How high is the risk of infection?

At the federal level, the Federal Institute for Public Health (BIÖG) also provides information to the public on the topic of infection control. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) compiles relevant information for the professional community.