Sepsis research in fast-forward - students visit the ZIK Septomics

Fourteen grade 11 students from Großröhrsdorf secondary school were guests at ZIK Septomics on 13.06.2024 for a flying visit. With a varied program, our scientists were able to introduce them to the topic of sepsis and inform them about symptoms and risk factors, among other things. During a tour of the laboratories, the students were given an insight into the equipment used by the Translational Septomics research group, including the liquid chromatography-coupled tandem mass spectrometer for detecting metabolic products from blood and tissue. In a parkour consisting of various stations, the students also had the opportunity to look at blood cells under a microscope, practice handling a pipette and have a bioimpedance analysis carried out to determine their body composition. An UV lamp and fluorescent disinfectant were used to demonstrate that it is not so easy to disinfect hands sufficiently. It was not uncommon to identify areas that were not completely wetted with disinfectant. A final sepsis quiz then made it clear once again that sepsis can affect anyone at any time and how important it is to protect oneself through vaccinations and by observing hygiene measures (washing hands, cleaning wounds).

It was a great pleasure for us to give the students a brief insight into our research activities.