Swedish Strategy to Combat Antibiotic Resistance 2016.

Swedish Strategy to Combat antibiotic resistance is a cross-sectoral policy document, which highlights areas and measures for effective work to combat antibiotic resistance during the period 2016-2020. The Strategy covers work at the national level, as well as within the EU and at the international level. Its overarching goal is to preserve the possibility of effective treatment of bacterial infections in people and animals. The Strategy is based on the Global Action Plan on Antimicrobial Resistance that was adopted by WHO, confirmed by FAO and OIE resolutions.
This Strategy sets up seven strategic objectives to achieve the overarching goal. Objective 1 is: Increased knowledge through enhanced surveillance. This objective involves: • improving access to data on resistance and the sale and use of antibiotics and other antibacterial agents in all sectors, as well as access to data on the spread of antibiotics into the environment; and • evaluating the success and cost-effectiveness of various measures, using continuous data collection. Objective 2 is: Continuous strong preventive measures. This objective involves: • identifying and implementing preventive measures in relevant sectors so that spread can be prevented, detected and avoided as early as possible; • minimising the spread of multiresistant bacteria. The expected results include: • relevant actors in animal production, veterinary medicine, and the food chain to have access to expertise on hygiene and efficient disease control regarding infectious diseases in order to ensure good animal health and safe foodstuffs; • antibiotic resistance, infection prevention and control/hygiene to be included in relevant education and training programmes; • a high level of vigilance, rapid diagnoses, and established routines and guidelines to prevent, detect and stop the spread of infectious disease; • technology for the cleaning of pharmaceutical residues and other substances that are difficult to treat in water treatment plants to be tested and evaluated by 2018; etc. Objective 3 involves using and handling antibiotics and other antibacterial agents in a wise and responsible manner. Objective 4 is: Increased knowledge for preventing and managing bacterial infections and antibiotic resistance with new methods. This objective involves: • increasing knowledge about basic bacterial infection mechanisms so that new diagnostic methods, vaccines and treatment options can be developed; • increasing knowledge about the emergence and spread of resistance so that the use of new and existing antibiotics can be optimised and the extent of the resistance problem can be prevented and limited. Objective 5 is: Improved awareness and understanding in society about antibiotic resistance and countermeasures, which involves: • knowledge, competence and increased awareness among all relevant parties – including the general public – about measures to prevent the spread of infections and about the risks of resistance development through the use of antibiotics. Objective 6 is: Supporting structures and system which involves: • conducting work related to antibiotic resistance in a coherent, efficient and strategic manner on the basis of the roles of different stakeholders. Objective 7 is: Leadership within the EU and in international cooperation, which involves: • Sweden showing leadership in efforts to combat antibiotic resistance and to work for the prudent and responsible use of antibiotics globally in multilateral processes, work at EU level and in bilateral contacts and cooperation; • global commitments made as part of the 2030 Agenda, as well as Sweden’s Policy for Global Development, being key frameworks.