Sweden has unveiled the latest edition of its annual Swedres-Svarm report on antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and antibiotic sales in a fully digital format, marking a significant step forward in the country’s surveillance and reporting capabilities.
The digital transformation was made possible through funding from the European Joint Action on Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections 2 (EU-JAMRAI 2), supporting Sweden’s transition from traditional reporting methods to a modern, data-driven workflow.
Published annually, the Swedres-Svarm report provides a comprehensive overview of antibiotic sales and antibiotic resistance trends in bacteria from both humans and animals, reflecting Sweden’s One Health approach to tackling AMR.
According to Julius Lautenbach of the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten), who leads the digitalisation initiative, the new reporting system represents a major improvement over previous methods.
“Before this digitalisation journey, we published a static PDF report and a printed book annually. Now, using R and Quarto, we’ve created a workflow that streamlines analysis and reporting, especially critical for infectious disease and AMR surveillance, where timely, accurate data is essential,” he said.
The new digital infrastructure enables faster, more transparent and reproducible reporting while providing stakeholders with improved access to surveillance data. For the first time, readers can interact directly with the report, downloading figures, tables and datasets to support further analysis and understanding.
The report’s findings show that antibiotic sales in Sweden decreased by 2.8% over the past year. However, antibiotic resistance continues to rise gradually, underscoring the ongoing challenges facing public health authorities.
Among the key findings, Sweden recorded 487 cases of carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacteria and 75 outbreaks during the reporting period. Of these outbreaks, 29 involved one or more cases reported as healthcare-associated infections within Sweden.
Health experts stress that while efforts to promote prudent antibiotic use and strengthen infection prevention measures can slow the development of resistance, they cannot completely halt the process.
“Our efforts can slow, but not stop, the increase in resistance. Therefore, it is important that we continue to work on infection control measures and responsible antibiotic use,” the report notes.
The digitalisation project is also expected to pave the way for future enhancements, including greater interactivity and the potential integration of real-time data capabilities.
Moira Kelly of Sciensano, EU-JAMRAI Task Leader for One Health Surveillance, highlighted the broader significance of the initiative. “Developments like this show what is possible when expertise, collaboration, and targeted support come together. We hope it can serve as inspiration for other countries working to strengthen their One Health reports,” she said.
The launch of the new digital Swedres-Svarm report demonstrates how innovation and international collaboration can strengthen antimicrobial resistance surveillance, providing more accessible and timely information to support public health action across Europe.
