ECDC country visit to Norway to discuss antimicrobial resistance issues
An ECDC country visit team conducted an assessment mission during the period 12–16 March 2018 to discuss antimicrobial resistance (AMR) issues in Norway. The overall objective of the mission was to provide an observation-based assessment of the situation in Norway regarding prevention and control of AMR through prudent use of antibiotics and infection control.
Executive Summary
Data from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) show that the proportion of AMR in bacteria from bloodstream infections in Norwegian patients is consistently below the EU/EEA average and often among the lowest in Europe. Nevertheless, although considerably below the EU/EEA average, resistance to broad-spectrum antibiotics such as third-generation cephalosporins has been increasing over the past 10 years. This is the result of emergence of strains that produce an extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL), combined with increasing consumption of broad-spectrum antibiotics in healthcare.