Antibiotics: Use wisely, take precisely.

Almost 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

How 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.

Link to: Swiss Antibiotic Resistance Report 2022

The federal government publishes a regular newsletter to keep the public updated on the implementation of the Swiss Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance (StAR).

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Whenever 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.

Find out more

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)

Antibiotic 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.

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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

Wound infections are complications that can occur following an operation, and delay healing. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Many of them can be avoided with preventive measures. Swissnoso, the National Centre for Infection Control, has developed a suite of practical measures. Since 2018 the SSI Intervention preventive module has been available to all Swiss hospitals.

Watch the video:  Das 1-Minuten-Rezept für eine OP ohne Infektionen (only available in German)

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Link to: Practical example of SSI intervention at Baden cantonal hospital (page available only in German, French and Italian)

More information on the SSI Intervention Tool (page available only in German, French and Italian)

National Strategy for the Monitoring, Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections (NOSO) (page available only in German, French and Italian)

In 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.

Watch the video

Find out more

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)

Link 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)

If you are interested in the areas of environment and agriculture, you can find information and instructions on the correct use of antibiotics with regard to the environment and nature here.

Link to the portal of the Strategy on antibiotic resistance StAR: www.star.admin.ch

Link to Federal Office for the Environment: www.bafu.admin.ch

Link to Federal Office for Agriculture: ww.blw.admin.ch

Link to Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance: www.anresis.ch