NORTH TO SOUTH DIVISION IN NATIONAL STRATEGIES TO COMBAT ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE IN EUROPE - A comparative study between Sweden and Spain

Abstract

As the emerging trend of antimicrobial resistance, such as from an overuse of antibiotics, increases around the world, more research is needed to combat the issue. International and European actions are present, such as a global action plan by the World Health Organization with directions of collaboration between different sectors and levels i.e., ‘one health’. However, more attention is demanded on national strategies and measures to combat the matter, as they can influence levels of resistance. The aim of the study is examining the national contributions by looking at national action plans against antibiotic resistance. As there is a division of antibiotic resistance in Europe, Sweden and Spain will represent the varied cases seen in the north and the south. Institutional and governance aspects are in focus, by looking at administrative and political traditions. The methodological approach is a two-case comparative text analysis of two national action plans, and how these relate to the global action plan. The results show that both countries have implemented the international governance framework by the World Health Organization, and have multilevel and multisectoral measures. Nonetheless, the Swedish action plan shows a deeper one health approach.