Infections in intraabdominal surgery. The EURESI Project. European Research Network on Surgical Infections.

The situation of clinical research in Europe must be improved substantially according to statements of scientists, managers and politicians. The analysis of requirements is available; however, there are no indications that the conclusion of the analysis is being converted into actual facts. Government programs, although originally conceived to improve the situation of clinical research, are used to maintain the status quo. The European Research Network on Surgical Infections (EURESI) concept has been developed by scientists and clinicians from European institutions and university hospitals to make the first steps possible in a new cooperation in European research. With regard to the essentials for clinical research, formulated according to a survey among research-oriented pharmaceutical companies, EURESI was successful in the following objectives: 1) competence in clinical research, 2) capacity for clinical studies, 3) internal quality control, 4) special know-how relevant to clinical studies, 5) performance according to a time plan, 6) interdisciplinianism, 7) contract partnership, 8) organization of research meetings. This special addendum includes presentations at the EURESI meeting in Heidelberg/Weinheim with special reference to the requirements for clinical studies in intraabdominal infections to further stimulate contact with the network.