Elisabeth Presterl is the head of the Department of Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology at the Medical University of Vienna and the University Hospital AKH Vienna. She is co-chair of the Austrian National Reference Center for Nosocomial Infections and Antimicrobial Resistance focusing on nosocomial infections. Her clinical work includes all aspects of infection control at the University Hospital and diagnosis and treatment of patients with nosocomial infections. She received her medical degree at the University of Vienna, Austria, in 1987. She has board certification in Internal Medicine, Infectious Diseases, and  Medical Microbiology and Hygiene. She received a Diploma in Tropical Medicine and Hygiene at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The research interests of her working group include the epidemiology, diagnosis, and treatment of healthcare-associated infections; all aspects of infection prevention and control, and microbial biofilms. She is a member of the boards of several national and international scientific societies and an invited speaker at national and international conferences.