Health experts from Egypt, Georgia, and Tunisia attend AMR and IPC study visit to Sweden

The two-day study visit focused on how to control the spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) through infection, prevention, and control (IPC) measures.

The meeting provided a good opportunity to discuss a broad range of topics addressing AMR and IPC, including patient safety, availability of diagnostics, stewardship, and training, as well as the need to strengthen IT solutions, data feedback, behavioural insights, and communication. 

The delegates learned about the Swedish experience with long-term AMR and IPC work and models, shared experiences, and discussed challenges and ways forward.  One focus was on data collection, data analysis, and data for action, where the situations and prerequisites among the participating countries differ. However, common approaches on how to strengthen surveillance of AMR and use as well as hospital acquired infections were identified.

Prior to the visit, delegates had expressed an interest in microbiological surveillance, and a visit to the Swedish National Reference Laboratory for AMR at the Public Health Agency focusing on genomic methods and sequencing was well received. 

Background   

Under the framework of the EU Initiative on Health Security, ECDC and EU Member States have set up an ‘Exchange of Experts’ programme to provide experts from European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) partner countries with opportunities to learn from the experiences of EU Member States within specific disease areas, and in turn share their own experiences.