The Nordic region needs to collaborate and combine efforts to fight antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in primary care, the initial contact level of health care where 90% of patients finish their medical treatment. By proposing this consortium, we aim to address objectives:
- Rationalisation of the use of antibiotics for the treatment of humans and animals,
- Collation of knowledge of the optimal use of existing antibiotics and vaccines,
- Improving the dissemination and sharing of best practices and
- Political pressure and dialogue via international co-operation
as mentioned in the Nordic Council’s initiatives on combating AMR.
By joining forces of experienced researchers with international experience in AMR-research from Norway, Denmark and Sweden we aim to apply for EU-funding to perform clinical trials in primary care. In these trials we will aim to explore the use of narrow-spectrum antibiotics, like penicillin V, shorter courses of antibiotics and more sustainable diagnostics in patients with acute respiratory tract infections (RTIs).
Norway, Denmark and Sweden have strong primary health care with a high degree of trust, and a strong, comparable safety-net. Relying on our similar social structures and traditions, we are in a unique position to conduct clinical trials testing to reduce the use of antibiotics even further. Results from such trials can then provide important international knowledge, transferrable to other countries in Europe - and perhaps even the rest of the world.