Antibiotic resistance
Bacteria can adapt so that antibiotics do not act anymore. So not people themselves become resistant to antibiotics, but bacteria do. The resistant bacteria can make treatment last longer or even impossible in some cases.
Antibiotics are essential in combating many bacterial infections. They enable doctors to treat conditions such as pneumonia or sepsis, and they help protect vulnerable patients who have a chronic disease, are undergoing chemotherapy (for cancer) or who have just had an operation.
Resistance to antibiotics – or antibiotic resistance – is the ability of certain bacteria to adapt so that they can resist the action of antibiotics. People themselves do not become resistant to antibiotics, only bacteria can. The resistant bacteria can then move from one person to another and make treatment more difficult, longer and even impossible in some cases.
Further information
Further topics
Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE)
Bacteria that are becoming resistant to antibiotics – and which therefore represent a current or existing threat to public health – are monitored. These bacteria include Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE).
NOSO Strategy: reduce Hospital and nursing home infections
Reducing the number of hospital and nursing home infections – that is the goal of the National Strategy for the Monitoring, Prevention and Control of Healthcare-Associated Infections (NOSO Strategy).
Federal Office of Public Health FOPH
Infection Control and Control Measures Section
Schwarzenburgstrasse 157
Switzerland - 3003 Bern