Good news: Only a fifth of the Swiss population has taken antibiotics in the last twelve months
Additional informationAlmost one-fifth of Switzerland’s population took antibiotics in the course of last year. But what does the average Swiss know about these medicines? Or about the growing resistance problem? Do they use them correctly? A representative population survey identified knowledge gaps, that need to be filled.
Link to: 2022 survey
Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Report 2022
Additional informationHow is antibiotic consumption evolving in Switzerland? What is the situation regarding antibiotic contamination of waterbodies? And how badly is Switzerland affected by infections caused by resistant bacteria? The answers to these questions can be found in the Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Report 2022, the main results are summarised.
Healthy hooves – less antibiotics
AnimalsHealthy hooves are essential to successful cattle-raising. With its “Healthy hooves – a firm foundation for the future” project, Switzerland is seeking among other things to bring about a long-term reduction in the use of antibiotics and disinfectants containing heavy metals.
Link to: “Healthy hooves – a firm foundation for the future”
Stay informed with our newsletter
Additional informationThe federal government publishes a regular newsletter to keep the public updated on the implementation of the Swiss Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance (StAR).
Water treatment: new solutions for hospital wastewater
Additional informationWhenever the sewer system is overloaded after heavy rain, part of the wastewater gets into our rivers, streams and lakes unpurified – and with it antibiotic-resistant bacteria. This is particularly unwelcome when it comes to hospital wastewater. Now the interplay between wastewater treatment installations and the sewer system is to be optimised.
Link to: Professional article on antibiotic resistances in the water cycle (available only in German) (PDF, 735 kB, 15.11.2019)
Link to: Reducing antibiotic resistances in bodies of water (available only in Germanj and French) (PDF, 304 kB, 15.11.2019)
International ministerial conference: Joining forces to combat antimicrobial resistance
Additional informationAntibiotic resistance is a global problem: all over the world, more and more bacteria are becoming resistant, and an increasing number of people are dying from infections it used to be possible to treat. International cooperation has to be stepped up to preserve the effectiveness of antibiotics in the long term. With this goal, more than 200 representatives from over 40 nations met for the 2nd Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in the Netherlands.
Link to: Second Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance
Link to: Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership
Link to: Antibiotic reduction: no negative effect on competitive position of Dutch farmers
By loading the video, you agree to YouTube’s privacy policy.
Learn more
Quiz
"*" indicates required fields
Vaccination reduces the need for antibiotics
HumansBoth children and adults can protect themselves against a number of viral and bacterial infections by being vaccinated. This helps to reduce antibiotic consumption and the risk of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Having a viral diseases puts you at risk of secondary bacterial infections. If high-risk patients are vaccinated in time, the probability of a disease involving infectious pathogens is much lower. If fewer primary and secondary infections occur, there is less need to prescribe antibiotics. Similarly, potential complications caused by existing or newly resistant bacteria in these target groups are kept in check by vaccination…find out more
From animal to human and vice versa
AnimalsAnimals and humans can transmit resistant bacteria to each other. Food can also play a role here…Find out more
Initial success in the fight against mastitis
Additional informationIn Canton Ticino, a pilot project is underway to eradicate Staphylococcus aureus genotype B, a pathogen that causes contagious udder infections in cows. The project aims to lower the number of infected udders, decrease antibiotic use, improve milk quality and reduce veterinary costs. A year and a half later, the results look promising.
Link to: Agricultural report 2019: pilot project in Ticino (page available only in German, French and Italian)
Staphylococcus aureus – a quick, effective diagnosis (page available only in German, French and Italian)
More information about the Ticino pilot project (page available only in Italian)
When are antibiotics effective? And when not?
AntibioticsAntibiotics are prescription-only drugs that prevent the growth of bacteria or kill them. Antibiotics only work against bacteria. They are useless against viruses, fungi and parasites, which can cause many different diseases in humans and animals. This makes it important for antibiotics to be prescribed for bacterial infections only.
Why are resistant bacteria a problem?
AntibioticsAntibiotics are an important pillar of modern medicine. If they lose their effectiveness, there are far-reaching consequences for humans and animals. For example, bacterial infections involving resistant microbes take longer to treat or may be untreatable in certain cases.
Resistance can cause higher costs in human and veterinary medicine as well as agriculture, and may make the disease more acute or even result in death. People or animals that have never had antibiotics in their life can also fall victim to an infection with resistant bacteria. The sharp increase we are seeing in antibiotic resistance worldwide is a very worrying phenomenon.
Bacteria know no boundaries
AntibioticsUse antibiotics exactly as directed
HumansTaking antibiotics incorrectly can lead to bacteria becoming resistant. Existing antibiotics then become useless against resistant bacteria, making the treatment of infectious diseases more difficult or even impossible. Take the exact dose prescribed by the doctor and for the specified length of time. Taking the dose that was prescribed for you guarantees that your antibiotic has the optimum effect. Don’t stop the treatment early, even if you feel better after a few days…find out more
What is antibiotic resistance?
AntibioticsAntibiotic resistance means that bacteria are unaffected by antibiotics. Bacteria have the ability to adapt quickly to their environment. Although this is a natural process, it also means they can get used to antibiotics and become resistant to them. The antibiotics then lose their effectiveness as a medicine. This unwanted adaptation process is helped and speeded up if antibiotics are used too often or wrongly.
So it is not people or animals that become resistant to antibiotics, but the bacteria. The resistant microbes are able to multiply very rapidly and can actually pass the resistance on to other bacteria. Since bacteria occur almost everywhere, they are easily transferred from one human being to another, or from an animal to a human and vice versa. If resistant bacteria cause a disease in humans or animals, it can be difficult or impossible to treat. In the worst-case scenario, it may even lead to death.
Antibiotic resistance in humans
HumansBacteria are able to adapt in such a way that antibiotics are no longer effective. So it is not people who become resistant, but bacteria. Resistant bacteria can prolong or even prevent treatment. It is important for us all to be better informed about the correct use of antibiotics…find out more
Learn more about antibiotic resistance in humans
Additional informationLink to: Federal Office of Public Health – Antibiotic Resistance
Link to: Antibiotic Resistance Strategy for the Human Domain
Download: Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance Switzerland (PDF, 1 MB, 11.11.2015)
Download: Factsheet on Antibiotic Resistance (PDF, 985 kB, 10.11.2017)
Download: FAQs on Antibiotic Resistance (PDF, 1014 kB, 10.11.2017)
What do I need to know when travelling abroad?
HumansIn some countries the problem of antibiotic resistance is greater than in Switzerland. People who have been abroad can unwittingly bring back antibiotic-resistant bacteria – especially if they were hospitalised during their travels. Anyone who is referred to a hospital or clinic within 12 months of their return to Switzerland should tell the medical staff that they have been abroad. Early detection of resistant bacteria helps to prevent their spread and makes it easier to identify the best course of treatment…find out more
Return partially used packs
HumansNever dispose of antibiotics in household waste. This helps to ensure that they don’t end up in the environment (e.g. in waste water). Don’t keep any left-over antibiotics to use in case you get ill again.
See Website: Returning unused antibiotics
See Website: bag
Newsletter Swiss Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance (StAR)
StAR publishes an electronic newsletter that regularly informs interested people about the status of the implementation of the StAR strategy.
Subscribe here to the StAR newsletter.