FORUM It all started with a bowl of germs: Sterillium® has been writing (success) stories for 60 years The decisive idea came to him during a visit by a senior physician at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf: ’The rooms were small, only the most important doctors went in, and I was standing in front of the door with the others. In front of the door was a sink with a diluted disinfectant solution in which all the doctors dipped their hands. The liquid looked suspicious to me,‘ Professor Dr Peter Kalmár recalled in an interview years ago. After the visit, he sent a sample to the laboratory. ’The solution was full of germs. Suddenly I had the idea of a skin-friendly disinfectant that could be rubbed on without washing.‘ Production started on 4 June 1965 The rest is hygiene history. The young surgeon‘s idea fell on fertile ground at Dr. Bode & Co. just a few miles away: on 4 June 1965, the first bottle of Sterillium® was filled at Dr. Bode & Co. in Hamburg-Stellingen. Sterillium® was the world‘s first marketable alcohol-based hand disinfectant. It combined reliable elimination of microorganisms with easy and time-saving application. It was also gentle on the skin thanks to its lipid-replenishing components. The way surgical hands were disinfected in the past is hard to imagine today: ’We used to scrub our hands and forearms with soap and a brush under running water before surgery. We then applied 96% alcohol to the skin and dried it with sterile cloths,‘ recalls Peter Kalmár. This had consequences: ’For many surgeons, the heavily degreased skin became brittle and cracked in places as a result of washing.‘ ’Brand of the century‘ and name of a product family The name Sterillium® has become synonymous with hand disinfection. In 2025, Sterillium® was named Brand of the Century for the fourth time. Today, the name also stands for a family of products whose members show their Sterillium® DNA - innovation, proximity to practice and research. Three examples: in 1995, Sterillium® Virugard was the first alcoholic hand disinfectant to be listed as effective against viruses. Since 2019, Sterillium® pure has only been available in a propanol-based formulation, making it suitable for people with allergies and atopic skin. Sterillium® foam extra care is the latest addition to the Sterillium® range. A doctor‘s wash basin turned out to be a germ trap - and was the starting point for the development of a revolutionary hand disinfectant. In one fell swoop, it made the fight against pathogens more efficient, safer and faster. 4
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