Our scientific research
The Radboudumc Community for Infectious Diseases research group aims to optimize treatment and outcome of mycobacterial diseases. We therefore combine basic science with pharmacology, microbiology, radiology, infectiology, and lung diseases.
read moreOur scientific research
The Radboudumc Community for Infectious Diseases research group aims to optimize treatment and outcome of mycobacterial diseases. We therefore combine basic science with pharmacology, microbiology, radiology, infectiology, and lung diseases.
Research overview
Member of the RCI mycobacterial infections perform in six Radboudumc research groups:
Research groups |
Involved members |
Expertise |
Translational pharmacology of anti-microbial drugs, specifically anti-tuberculosis drugs |
Rob Aarnoutse Lindsey te Brake Elin Svensson (also Uppsala University, Sweden) |
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Clinical tuberculosis and other mycobacterial infections |
Martin Boeree Cecile Magis-Escurra Wouter Hoefsloot Jodie Schildkraut Neeltje Carpaij |
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Reinout van Crevel (also Oxford University) Arjan van Laarhoven Andrew Dinardo (also Baylor College of Medicine, USA) Vinod Kumar |
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Clinical Microbiology |
Heiman Wertheim Jakko van Ingen |
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Frans Russel Jan Koenderink |
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Global Health Economics |
Rob Baltussen |
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Patients treated at Radboudumc for mycobacterial infections are able to participate in the Mycobacterial Cohort Study that gather clinical, microbiological and pharmacological data and is coupled to the Radboud biobank for later (immunological) measurements.
Our education
Where can you learn more about mycobacterial infections at Radboudumc?
- Latent tuberculosis pathophysiology (full day lecture, assignments and presentation by prof. Reinout van Crevel & dr. Arjan van Laarhoven in MED-MIN06, Minor Global Health & Infectious Diseases)
- Tuberculosis treatment and drug resistance & risk factors for non-tuberculous mycobacterial infections (a lecture by dr. Wouter Hoefsloot & dr. Jakko van Ingen in MED-MIN29, ‘Control of Infectious Diseases’)
- Global HIV and tuberculosis co-infection, TB diagnostiscs and treatment latent TB treatment (1,5 day lectures, assignment and interactive clinical puzzle by Prof. Reinout van Crevel & dr. Jakko van Ingen & dr. Mischa Huson & dr. Arjan van Laarhoven in MED-MINK16, ‘Minor in Global Health’)
- Introduction to Tuberculosis (lecture by dr. Arjan van Laarhoven in MED-VK30-07, keuzemodule ‘Introduction to Global health')
- Central nervous system infections including tuberculous meningitis (lecture by prof. dr. van Crevel in MINK-09, ‘The Fascinating Brain’)
Read more about education at RCI
Clinical studies
Patients treated as inpatients or outpatients in Radboudumc, can be informed by their treating physicians on participation in the following clinical studies. Patients can participate in observational studies and clinical trials.
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Our current observational studies are listed here.
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Observational studies
Mycobacterial Cohort Study (MyCoS) enables all patients with a mycobacterial infection in Radboudumc to participate in a prospective data registry and biobank study to increase our immunological, genetic and pharmacokinetic understanding.
- Procedure: MyCoS is embedded in standard care and no study-specific visits are required and blood samples are collected during routine care.
- Ethics: CMO NL2021-13231 (niet-WMO plichtig).
- Principal investigators: Arjan van Laarhoven & Wouter Hoefsloot.
- PhD candidates: Lisa Kurver, Arthur Lemson, Cynthia van Arkel and Wouter Peeters.
Tuberculin Skin Test (TST) substudy of MyCoS enrolls all patients with tuberculosis or non-tuberculous mycobacterial lung disease at the start of antituberculosis treatment to determine the relationship between tissue immune responses to a mycobacterial challenge and the clinical course of infection.
- Procedure: patients will receive the standard intradermal tuberculin skin test (normally used to diagnose latent tuberculosis) and a saline injection on the contralateral arm (visit 1). After 48 hours two 3 mm skin biopsies will be taken from the tuberculin and saline skin injection (visit 2) and patients will be followed-up by phone call at day 7.
- Ethics: CMO NL2022-13725, Toetsingonline.
- Principal investigator: Arjan van Laarhoven.
- PhD candidate: Lisa Kurver.
Skin and Soft Tissue (SSTI) substudy of MyCoS enrolls all patients with non-tuberculous (NTM) skin- and soft tissue infections (SSTI) at the start of their antimycobacterial treatment to identify clinical and immunological parameters that predict the course of disease of NTM SSTI. In addition, local and systemic pharmacokinetics are assessed to provide a systemic correlate for local pharmacokinetics.
- Procedure: Skin biopsies are collected at baseline, 2 months later, and in case of lesional worsening in a subset of patients. Blood for systemic pharmacokinetic measurements is collected after 2 months.
- Ethics: CMO NL2023-16732, ToetsingOnline.
- Principal investigator: Arjan van Laarhoven.
- PhD candidate: Wouter Peeters.
International MAC-PD cohort enrolls MAC-LD patients starting antimycobacterial treatment into a prospective, international data-registry to assess the culture conversion rate after 6 months of antimycobacterial treatment, adverse drug reactions and treatment modifications.
- Procedure: Participant requires follow-up at the Radboudumc during the first 6 months of treatment.
- Ethics: CMO 2022-13742, ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05906316.
- Principal investigator: Wouter Hoefsloot.
- PhD candidate: Arthur Lemson.
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Our current clinical trials are listed here.
read more
Clinical trials
SALINE enrolls patients with nodular-bronchiectatic M. avium complex lung disease for a randomized, controlled trial to investigate the effect of hypertonic saline inhalation on quality-of-life compared to standard supportive care. Hypertonic saline, shown to be well tolerated and in some patients sufficient to clear their NTM infection, is inhaled twice daily via a nebulizer device.
- Procedure: the trial is largely aligned with our standard-of-care and participation requires two visits to the Radboudumc with a 3-month time interval.
- Ethics: CMO NL79735.091.22, ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05192057
- Principal investigator: Wouter Hoefsloot.
Mino-PK investigates the pharmacokinetics of minocycline in patients with M. avium complex lung disease with and without concurrent use of rifampicin.
- Procedure: two 5-day courses of minocycline (with and without concurrent use of rifampicin) are prescribed within a 6-week time interval, followed by pharmacokinetic analysis. Participation requires 3 visits to the Radboudumc, but will often partially overlap with a hospital admission to initiate NTM treatment as a whole.
- Ethics: ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05861258.
- Principal investigator: Wouter Hoefsloot.
- PhD student: Arthur Lemson.
PORT enrolls patients with tuberculosis without major comorbidities for optimized dose of rifampicin, to investigate the safety and tolerability of this optimized dose.
- Procedure: in this phase 3 trial, patients in the first four weeks of antibiotic treatment are randomised between standard dose and optimized dose of 1800 mg rifampin for six months.
- Ethics: CMO NL2022-13538 ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT06057519
- Principal investigator(s): Martin Boeree and Cécile Magis-Escurra.
- Study team: Jodie Schildkraut and Iris Spelier.
RIAlta enrolls both young (18-65 years) and elderly (>65 years) patients with severe pulmonary (BMI< 18) and/or extrapulmonary (meningitis) tuberculosis and comorbidities (HIV infection, renal and liver disease, DM, and/or substance abuse) to investigate the safety, tolerability and pharmakinetics and pharmacodynamics of an optimized dose of rifampin combined with a standard first line regimen.
- Procedure: in this open-label phase 2b/c international multi center trial, patients are treated with 35 mg/kg rifampin for two months +HZE (intensive phase of treatment).
- Ethics: CMO NL75346.091.20. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04768231.
- Principal investigator: Dr. Adrian Sanchez Montalva, Vall d'Hebron
- Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
- Juan Espinosa trial coordinator, VHIR.
- Local PI: Cécile Magis-Escurra.
- Local study team: Juul Altinga, Timo Hoeijmakers, Marlies de Vos and Giovanni Fumagalli.
PhD candidates
The research program “Treatment optimization for mycobacterial diseases: management and outcome of mycobacterial diseases” has facilitated numerous candidates to pursue their PhD at Radboud University.
overview PhD candidatesPhD candidates
The research program “Treatment optimization for mycobacterial diseases: management and outcome of mycobacterial diseases” has facilitated numerous candidates to pursue their PhD at Radboud University.
PhD candidate |
Title |
Year |
Promotores |
Co-promotores |
Alma Tostmann |
Challenges in tuberculosis treatment and control: studies from the Netherlands and Tanzania |
2009 |
Richard Dekhuijzen |
Martin Boeree, Rob Aarnoutse |
Hanneke Nijland |
Optimizing drug treatment in the fight against tuberculosis. Focus on clinical pharmacokinetics |
2009 |
Chiel Hekster |
Rob Aarnoutse, Reinout van Crevel |
Ida Parwati |
Factors Underlying the Success of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Beijing genotype in Indonesia |
2009 |
Jos van der Meer |
Reinout van Crevel, Adri van der Zanden |
Jakko van Ingen |
Nontuberculous mycobacteria: From gene sequences to clinical relevance |
2009 |
Richard Dekhuijzen, Dick van Soolingen |
Martin Boeree |
Rovina Ruslami |
Clinical Pharmacology of anti-tuberculosis treatment in Indonesia |
2009 |
Jos van der Meer |
Rob Aarnoutse, Reinout van Crevel |
Jossy van den Boogaard |
Non-adherence to tuberculosis treatment: An untegral approach to measure and prevent it |
2011 |
Richard Dekhuijzen |
Rob Aarnoutse, Martin Boeree, Gibson Kibiki |
Ahmad Rizal Ganiem |
Etiology and clinical management of adult meningitis in Indonesia |
2013 |
André van der Ven |
Reinout van Crevel, Rovina Ruslami |
Cecile Magis-Escurra |
Clinical and epidemiological studies from a tuberculosis referral centre in the Netherlands |
2013 |
Richard Dekhuijzen |
Martin Boeree, Rob Aarnoutse |
Wouter Hoefsloot |
Nontuberculous mycobacteria: new insights in epidemiology and clinical relevance |
2013 |
Richard Dekhuijzen, Dick van Soolingen |
Martin Boeree, Jakko van Ingen |
Merrin Rutherford |
Management of children living with tuberculosis patients; studies from Indonesia |
2013 |
André van der Ven, Philip Hill |
Reinout van Crevel, Rovina Ruslami |
Charles Mtabho |
Improving the management of tuberculosis in Tanzania: clinical and epidemiological studies |
2014 |
André van der Ven, Gibson Kibiki |
Rob Aarnoutse, Martin Boeree |
Hadija Semvua |
Clinical pharmacological studies in tuberculosis patients: research from the Kilimanjaro Region,Tanzania |
2014 |
David Burger, Gibson Kibiki |
Rob Aarnoutse, Martin Boeree |
Johanneke Klein-nijenhuis |
Host response to mycobacteria: innate recognition and memory |
2015 |
Mihai Netea |
Reinout van Crevel |
Sami Simons |
Drug susceptibility testing for optimising tuberculosis treatment |
2015 |
Richard Dekhuijzen, Dick van Soolingen |
Martin Boeree, Jakko van Ingen |
Lindsey te Brake |
Translational research in tuberculosis: crossing barriers between molecular and clinical pharmacology |
2016 |
David Burger, Frans Russel |
Rob Aarnoutse, Jan Koenderink |
Beatriz Ferro |
Strategies to improve treatment of nontuberculous mycobacterial disease |
2017 |
Johan Mouton, Dick van Soolingen |
Jakko van Ingen |
Ekta Lachmandas |
Host response to tuberculosis: impact of diabetes and cellular metabolism of immune cells |
2017 |
Mihai Netea, Reinout van Crevel |
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Lidya Chaidir |
Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Genotyping in Indonesia |
2017 |
Reinout van Crevel |
Bachti Alisjahbana |
Arjan van Laarhoven |
Host response in relation to tuberculosis susceptibility, transmission and outcome |
2018 |
Reinout van Crevel, Mihai Netea |
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Mohammed Khogali |
Bridging the knowledge gap: Operational research to improve access to health care in Ethiopia |
2018 |
Richard Dekhuijzen, Anthony Harries |
Martin Boeree, Rony Zachariah |
Jessica de Beer |
Molecular typing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex: the answers you can and cannot get |
2018 |
Dick van Soolingen |
Jakko van Ingen |
Sofiati Dian |
High-dose rifampicin and other factors associated with outcome of tuberculous meningitis |
2018 |
Reinout van Crevel, Rovina Ruslami |
Rob Aarnoutse, Ahmad Rizal Ganiem |
Serge Ade |
Operational research to document and improve case finding and treatment outcomes in patients with tuberculosis in Benin, West Africa |
2019 |
Richard Dekhuijzen, Anthony Harries |
Martin Boeree, Rony Zachariah |
Carolien Ruesen |
Understanding tuberculosis drug resistance, disease phenotype and transmission by mycobacterial genome analysis |
2019 |
Reinout van Crevel, Martijn Huijnen |
Lidya Chaidir, Jakko van Ingen |
Madhugiri Venkatachalaiah |
Operational Research for improving the care of HIV-infected TB patients in India |
2019 |
Richard Dekhuijzen, Anthony Harries |
Martin Boeree, Rony Zachariah |
Kudakwashe Takarinda |
The burden of tuberculosis in Zimbabwe: operational research to document and improve tuberculosis control activities in a high HIV-prevalence setting |
2019 |
Richard Dekhuijzen, Anthony Harries |
Martin Boeree, Rony Zachariah |
Carlijn Litjens |
Building bridges between preclinical and clinical pharmacology in tuberculosis treatment |
2021 |
Rob Aarnoutse, Frans Russel |
Lindsey te Brake, Jan Koenderink |
Massoud Dara |
Tuberculosis in the WHO European Region, Research for Evidence-based Policies |
2021 |
Martin Boeree |
Rony Zachariah |
Hemant Shewade |
Effectiveness of community-based active case finding for tuberculosis in India |
2021 |
Martin Boeree, Anthony Harries |
Ajay Kumar |
Mike Ruth |
A lung in a bottle; an in vitro pipeline to optimize treatment regimens for NTM disease |
2021 |
Heiman Wertheim |
Jakko van Ingen |
Valerie A. C. M. Koeken |
Host response in tuberculosis and BCG vaccination |
2021 |
Reinout van Crevel, Mihai Netea |
Arjan van Laarhoven |
Andrew DiNardo |
Molecular endotypes and epigenetics underlying tuberculosis risk, severity, and outcomes |
2022 |
Reinout van Crevel, Mihai Netea |
|
Stijn van Beek |
Model-informed pharmacological interventions against tuberculosis and malaria |
2022 |
Rob Aarnoutse |
Rob ter Heine, Elin Svensson |
Alit Koesoemadinata |
Tuberculosis and diabetes; towards better screening and outcomes |
2023 |
Reinout van Crevel, Philip Hill |
Bachti Alisjahbana |
Bony Lestari |
Public Health Tools to Improve Tuberculosis Control in Indonesia |
2023 |
Reinout van Crevel, Philip Hill |
Bachti Alisjahbana |
Jodie Schildkraut |
Nontuberculous mycobacteria; from prevalence to prognosis |
2023 |
Heiman Wertheim |
Jakko van Ingen, Lindsey te Brake |
Rosarita Coronel Teixeira |
The electronic nose as a possible point of care diagnostic in Tuberculosis |
2023 |
Martin Boeree |
Cécile Magis-Escurra |
Engy Ali |
Operational research studies conducted to improve effectives and management of severe acute malnutrition for children under 5 |
ongoing |
Koos van der Velden, Martin Boeree |
Rony Zachariah |
Anca Riza |
Genetics and tuberculosis susceptibility and treatment |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel, Mihai Netea |
Vinod Kumar |
Arnold Ndaro |
Clinical pharmacokinetics of anti-tuberculosis drugs in Tanzanian adults and children |
ongoing |
Rob Aarnoutse |
Lindsey te Brake, Hadija Semvua |
Arthur Lemson |
Optimizing conservative and antibiotic treatment in nontuberculous mycobacterial pulmonary disease |
ongoing |
Martin Boeree, Rob Aarnoutse |
Wouter Hoefsloot, Jakko van Ingen |
Caryn Upton |
Exploration and optimisation of anti-tuberculous therapy in cerebrospinal fluid penetration |
ongoing |
Martin Boeree, Rob Aarnoutse, Andreas Diacon |
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Cynthia van Arkel |
Clinical aspects of the tuberculosis patiënt admitted in Dutch referral centres |
ongoing |
Martin Boeree |
Cécile Magis-Escurra, Arjan van Laarhoven |
Karapet Davtyan |
Operational research for improving tuberculosis care and control in Armenia |
ongoing |
Martin Boeree |
Rony Zachariah |
Gerine Nijman |
Evaluating the disconnect in the cascade of care of tuberculosis in Indonesia |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel, Philip Hill |
Bony Wiem Lestari |
Iraseni Swai |
Developing contents and testing the effectiveness of Digital Adherence Tools (DAT) in improving adherence among children and adolescents living with HIV in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania |
ongoing |
Tobias Rinke de Wit (UVA), Rob Aarnoutse |
Marion Sumari-de Boer |
Isabella van der Feltz |
Pharmacometrics and bioanalysis to aid the development of novel treatment regimens against tuberculosis |
ongoing |
Rob Aarnoutse |
Elin Svensson, Lindsey te Brake |
Jelmer Raaijmakers |
Hollow fiber model simulations to improve treatment regimens in NTM-PD |
ongoing |
Heiman Wertheim, Rob Aarnoutse |
Jakko van Ingen, Wouter Hoefsloot |
Julia Brake |
Impact of diabetes on immunometabolism of host and Mycobacterium tuberculosis. |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel |
Jakko van Ingen, Rinke Stienstra |
Kirsten van Abeelen |
Multi-Omics Integration to Understand the Pathophysiology of Tuberculosis Meningitis |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel |
Arjan van Laarhoven, Vinod Kumar |
Lisa Kurver |
Immune Dysregulation in Mycobacterial Infections |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel |
Arjan van Laarhoven |
Ombeni Chimbe |
Pharmacological aspects of the implementation of tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) with once weekly rifapentine and isoniazid for three months (3HP) in people living with diabetes mellitus |
ongoing |
Rob Aarnoutse |
Lindsey te Brake, Nyanda Elias Ntinginya |
Ralf Stemkens |
Clinical pharmacology of antimycobacterial drugs |
ongoing |
Rob Aarnoutse |
Lindsey te Brake |
Simon Koele |
Pharmacometrics for tuberculosis biomarkers and novel therapeutics |
ongoing |
Rob Aarnoutse |
Elin Svensson |
Sweetness Laizer |
Quality of diabetes and diabetes-tuberculosis care in Tanzania and Uganda |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel, Philip Hill |
Kajiru Kilonzo, Nyasatu Chamba |
Takindwa Msosa |
The effectiveness of a customized digital adherence tool on HIV treatment outcomes in adolescents and young adults living with HIV in Blantyre, Malawi |
ongoing |
Tobias Rinke de Wit (UVA), Rob Aarnoutse |
Marion Sumari-de Boer |
Todia Pediatama Setiabu-diawan |
Innate protection against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in highly exposed individuals |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel |
Valerie A. C. M. Koeken |
Willyhelmina Olomi |
Design and analysis of tuberculosis preventive trials |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel, Katrina Sharples, Philip Hill |
Nyanda Ntinginya |
Sanne Zweij-pfenning |
Non tuberculous mycobacteria: Turning the antibiotic nightmare around |
2024 |
Martin Boeree, Michel van den Heuvel |
Wouter Hoefsloot, Jakko van Ingen |
Wouter Peeters |
Non-Tuberculous Mycobacterial Skin and Soft Tissue Infections |
ongoing |
Reinout van Crevel |
Arjan van Laarhoven, Juul van den Reek, Mumin Ozturk |
Victor Dahl |
Nontuberculous mycobacterial disease in Denmark and beyond |
ongoing |
Troels Lillebaek (SSI/Aarhus) |
Jakko van Ingen |
Ingrid van Weerden-burg |
Using data science to improve diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases |
ongoing |
Heiman Wertheim |
Jakko van Ingen |
Hanna Fricke |
Mycobacterium-host crosstalk in immunomodulation |
ongoing |
Heiman Wertheim |
Jakko van Ingen |
Research internships
We offer internships for motivated students in a variety of topics, such as: diagnostics, treatment including pharmacology, and mechanisms of disease including immunology. Please contact us and include your recent curriculum vitae.
mail usInternational consortia and collaborators
RCI members also contribute to international consortia and collaborate with various international universities and research centers.
read moreInternational consortia and collaborators
International consortia
RCI members also contribute to international consortia.
Clinical trials and pharmacokinetics of tuberculosis drugs
- UNITE4TB consortium (prof. Martin Boeree, prof. Rob Aarnoutse, dr. Lindsey te Brake, prof Reinout van Crevel, dr. Cecil Magis, dr. Jakko van Ingen, dr. Elin Svensson): watch the video of UNITE4TB
- PanACEA consortium (prof. Martin Boeree, prof. Rob Aarnoutse, dr. Lindsey te Brake, dr. Elin Svensson)
Tuberculosis diagnostics
- EUSAT-RCS consortium - (dr. Cecile Magis-Escurra)
Prevention of diabetes-associated tuberculosis
- PROTID consortium - (prof. Reinout van Crevel, dr. Lindsey te Brake)
Tuberculous meningitis
- Phase 3 RCT on high-dose rifampicin (HARVEST consortium on TB meningitis (prof. Rob Aarnoutse, prof. Reinout van Crevel, dr. Lindsey te Brake)
- Multi-omics analysis on pathogenesis and survival in adults (ULTIMATE; NIH/R01-AI145781-01) and children (INTERCEPT; R01AI165721) prof. Reinout van Crevel, dr. Arjan van Laarhoven, dr Vinod Kumar.
International collaborators
- Universitas Padjadjaran (Bandung, Indonesia)
- University of Indonesia (Jakarta, Indonesia)
- KCMC/KCRI (Moshi, Tanzania)
- NIMR-MMRC (Mbeya, Tanzania)
- Makarere University (Kampala, Uganda)
- TASK (Cape Town, South Africa)
- Nat. Instit. of Resp. Diseases and the Environment (Asunción, Paraguay)
- University College London (London, UK)
- University of Zaragoza (Zaragoza, Spain)
- Forschungszentrum Borstel (Borstel, Germany)
- Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, UK
- Otago University (Dunedin , New Zealand)
Clinical fellowships
We regularly host doctors in training for medical specialties in pulmonology or internal medicine/infectious diseases (“assistenten in opleiding tot specialist”, AIOS) and pharmacists in training.
Radboudumc center of clinical expertise for tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infectious diseases
Radboudumc is an acknowledged center of clinical expertise for tuberculosis and non-tuberculous mycobacterial infectious diseases (NTM). Healthcare professionals, such as pulmonologists, internists and other medical specialists, municipal health physicians in tuberculosis prevention, and general practitioners are able to obtain information and advice here. The center of expertise has a TBC-unit which is technically advanced in hygiene. Here, we treats patients from across the Netherlands and sometimes from well beyond its borders.