The present invention relates to a fast, simple and very sensitive method for the detection of bacteria, comprising the steps of providing one or more suspensions each comprising at least one species of labeled test bacteriophages which specifically bind to a bacterial species to be detected; adding a sample to be tested for the presence of at least one bacterial species to be detected to the one or more suspensions; filtering the reaction mixture; detecting bacteria-bacteriophages-complexes on the surface of the filter in the retentate, provided that at least one bacterial species to be detected is present, wherein the complexes consist of bacteria of the at least one bacterial species to be detected and test bacteriophages of the at least one species of test bacteriophages bound thereto; detecting unbound test bacteriophages in the filtrate; processor-aided processing of received detection signals and output of detection results.