In Sweden, antibiotic use is relatively low compared to other countries, but the prevalence of resistant bacteria is also increasing here.

Västerbotten has for many years the lowest antibiotic prescription in the country, and even the latest report from the Public Health Authority shows that the county continues to have a low prescription.

Only the region of Västerbotten and Jämtland reaches the prescribed prescribing goal, although several regions are well on their way, according to the Public Health Authority.

Health care dependency

Modern healthcare is dependent on the availability of antibiotics that work. Therefore, we should not use antibiotics for illnesses that the body can heal on its own, says infection control physician Stephan Stenmark.

- The work on antibiotic resistance is about patient safety and is long-term. The focus is on giving every patient with infections a good assessment and following the treatment recommendations, says Stenmark.

The World Health Organization WHO classifies antibiotic resistance as one of the ten biggest threats to human health globally.