What resources are available to help doctors with their prescribing?

In order to maintain the effectiveness of antibiotics in human and veterinary medicine, their appropriate use must be promoted. To this end, the FOPH, together with medical associations and other actors, has developed various tools for primary care providers as part of the Strategy on Antibiotic Resistance (StAR).

Prescribing guidelines

Handy screen with prescribing guidelines

The Swiss Society for Infectious Diseases (SSI) regularly develops and publishes guidelines that enable doctors to optimise their use of antibiotics in line with the latest scientific findings. These can be downloaded via the following link: ssi.guidelines.ch.
Users can add their own suggestions or ask questions using a comment function and thereby further improve the guidelines.

Latest resistance data and guidelines on INFECT

Tablet showing latest resistance data and guidelines on INFECT

The latest resistance data are clearly and intuitively presented on the INFECT application produced by ANRESIS, the Swiss Centre for Antibiotic Resistance. Thus, it supports antibiotic use that is matched to the local resistance situation and linked to the SSI prescribing guidelines. INFECT can be downloaded from infect.info and is available as an app for Android and iOS devices.
General information and the latest trends can also be found at anresis.ch.

Antibiotic resistance fact sheet for patients

Antibiotic resistance fact sheet for patients

This fact sheet, produced by the FOPH in collaboration with several specialist associations, contains simple, understandable information and recommendations on taking antibiotics and explains the reasons why an antibiotic may not be necessary for certain infections.
 It also includes general information about antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. The fact sheet is available in 13 languages and can be used in connection with a consultation. The fact sheet and companion products (explanatory video, poster) can be ordered free of charge from correct-use-of-antibiotics.ch.

Decision-making aids on antibiotic prescribing in practice and quality circles

Decision-making aid on antibiotic prescribing

BIHAM, the Institute of Primary Health Care, has produced three evidence-based medical information tools and decision-making aids designed to help doctors and their patients jointly decide on antibiotic prescribing. Simple, understandable graphics show the advantages and disadvantages of treatment with and without antibiotics for tonsillopharyngitis, otitis media in children and uncomplicated urinary tract infections in women. These resources are ideally suited for use as thought-provoking training aids in quality circles. They can be down-loaded from biham.unibe.ch/entscheidhilfen.

Last modification 09.11.2022

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Contact

Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Communicable Diseases Division
Strategies, Principles and Programmes Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
3003 Bern
Switzerland
Tel. +41 58 463 87 06
E-mail

Print contact

https://www.bag.admin.ch/content/bag/en/home/krankheiten/infektionskrankheiten-bekaempfen/antibiotikaresistenzen/welche-hilfsmittel-stehen-den-aerztinnen-und-aerzten-bei-der-verschreibung-zur-verfuegung.html