Objectives and Target Audience
Objective(s)
Antibiotic-smart Sweden (Antibiotikasmart Sverige) is a national initiative launched in mid-November 2019, specifically on November 15, 2019, funded by Vinnova and coordinated by the Public Health Agency of Sweden (Folkhälsomyndigheten) alongside RISE, STRAMA, ReAct, municipalities, and regions to promote the wise use of antibiotics and to combat antimicrobial resistance (AMR). It is not a single campaign but rather an umbrella initiative that involves:
1. Awareness-raising activities (e.g. campaigns during European Antibiotic Awareness Day)
2. Support to municipalities, healthcare centers, and regions to become "antibiotic-smart"
3. Certification programs for "Antibiotic-smart" entities
4. Educational materials and local engagement
The initiative is structured as a multi-year mission under the “Vision‑driven health” program, initially set to run from November 2019 until May 2025, with a total funding of 25 million SEK.
The initiative aims to foster a whole-of-society approach through: 1. Public engagement (“Antibiotic Smart People”)
2. Regional and municipal participation using defined criteria and 3. National and international collaboration networks. The criteria for municipalities were piloted and finalized in March 2024, formally launched at that time.
1. Awareness-raising activities (e.g. campaigns during European Antibiotic Awareness Day)
2. Support to municipalities, healthcare centers, and regions to become "antibiotic-smart"
3. Certification programs for "Antibiotic-smart" entities
4. Educational materials and local engagement
The initiative is structured as a multi-year mission under the “Vision‑driven health” program, initially set to run from November 2019 until May 2025, with a total funding of 25 million SEK.
The initiative aims to foster a whole-of-society approach through: 1. Public engagement (“Antibiotic Smart People”)
2. Regional and municipal participation using defined criteria and 3. National and international collaboration networks. The criteria for municipalities were piloted and finalized in March 2024, formally launched at that time.
Target audience
Elderly people
Preschools
Municipal water and wastewater sector
School Students
Municipalities
Health centers
Regions
Hospitals
Residents of medico-social establishments
General public
Campaign Scope
National
Collaborations
Partners or Allies
Vinnova
RISE – Research Institutes of Sweden
Municipalities and Regions
Communication Strategy
Communication Channels Used
websites/blogs
Posters
Press releases
Community events
Presentations
Campaign Material(s)
Educational videos
Stories
Website content
E-learning material
Checklist for Healthier Preschool
Key messages
Our messages: Feel free to use our overall messages when you talk about us and why Sweden needs to be antibiotic-smart.
Background: Antibiotics save lives every day and are a prerequisite for human and animal health, for our modern healthcare and for a sustainable society.
If we all help prevent infections, prevent the spread of infection and use antibiotics responsibly, we will help ensure that antibiotics continue to work.
Incorrect and excessive use of antibiotics is causing bacteria to become resistant at an ever faster rate, which means that more infections are becoming difficult to treat. Every year, around 35,000 people in Europe die from antibiotic-resistant infections.
This makes Antibioticsmart Sweden unique – our USP (unique selling point)
We want to bring together and engage the entire community in helping antibiotics work and continue to save lives.
We offer target group-specific knowledge and support for residents to understand the problem and how they can contribute by acting antibiotic-smart every day.
With antibiotic-smart criteria, we want to stimulate regions, municipalities and their operations to work in a structured way on antibiotic and healthcare hygiene issues.
To increase national collaborations, we offer a meeting place for academia, the private sector, authorities and civil society.
We work actively with international exchange to spread knowledge about our model and gain inspiration from other countries in our work.
We see civil society as a force and important partner in creating an antibiotic-smart society.
Background: Antibiotics save lives every day and are a prerequisite for human and animal health, for our modern healthcare and for a sustainable society.
If we all help prevent infections, prevent the spread of infection and use antibiotics responsibly, we will help ensure that antibiotics continue to work.
Incorrect and excessive use of antibiotics is causing bacteria to become resistant at an ever faster rate, which means that more infections are becoming difficult to treat. Every year, around 35,000 people in Europe die from antibiotic-resistant infections.
This makes Antibioticsmart Sweden unique – our USP (unique selling point)
We want to bring together and engage the entire community in helping antibiotics work and continue to save lives.
We offer target group-specific knowledge and support for residents to understand the problem and how they can contribute by acting antibiotic-smart every day.
With antibiotic-smart criteria, we want to stimulate regions, municipalities and their operations to work in a structured way on antibiotic and healthcare hygiene issues.
To increase national collaborations, we offer a meeting place for academia, the private sector, authorities and civil society.
We work actively with international exchange to spread knowledge about our model and gain inspiration from other countries in our work.
We see civil society as a force and important partner in creating an antibiotic-smart society.
Campaign Focus
One Health
Campaign Setting
Elderly and disability care
Preschools
Water and sewerage
Schools
Municipal management
Health center
Regional management
Hospital
Residents
Design and Content
Use of Scientific Evidence
Implicit Evidence-Based Messaging
Pedagogical Approach
Educational model applied
Participatory
Constructivist
Content Complexity Level
Intermediate
Diversity and Inclusion
Content accessibility
Yes
Content accessibility
Audio description
Diversity and Inclusion
Yes
Involvement of Vulnerable Groups
No
Cultural Sensitivity and Contextualization
Yes
Dissemination and Sustainability
Replicability
Yes
Content usage license
Free
Campaign Status
Active
Impact Evaluation
Quantitative impact indicators
Number of municipalities/regions enrolled
% meeting certification criteria
Number of certified units
Number of training sessions held
Attendance numbers
% staff trained
Change in antibiotic prescription rates (overall or per setting)
Number of events/campaigns
Distribution count of materials
Media impressions
% of units with updated protocols
Diploma renewal rate
% completing yearly follow-up requirements
Qualitative impact indicators
Case stories from patients or professionals
Measured results
1. Structured criteria-based enrollment & monitoring:
1.1. Swedish municipalities and regions can sign up to become antibiotic-smart, following a defined set of criteria spanning organization, routines, education, and measurement (Learn more: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/antibiotikasmart-sverige/in-english/antibiotic-smart-criteria/;
1. 2. After pilot testing in over 60 organizations, the criteria were finalized and formally launched in March 2024: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/antibiotikasmart-sverige/in-english/antibiotic-smart-criteria/
1.3. Participating entities apply for official certification after meeting requirements, earning a one-year diploma that can be renewed upon demonstrating ongoing compliance : https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/antibiotikasmart-sverige/in-english/antibiotic-smart-criteria/
Impact Indicators Involved: a. Number of signed-up municipalities/regions. b) Percentage that successfully complete all criteria. c)Annual certification renewals.
2. Whole‑of‑society engagement model: The initiative tracks and supports active involvement across three interconnected strands: “Smart People”, “Smart Municipalities & Regions”, and “National & International Collaboration”
Impact signals include: a) Number of outreach activities and stakeholder engagements. b)Participation rates in workshops, webinars, and local events. c) Increases in toolkits, guidelines, and communication support downloads.
3. Embedded in national surveillance & learning networks: The project builds upon Sweden’s existing surveillance infrastructure (e.g., STRAMA, MedRave, Infektionsverktyget) and aims to integrate antibiotic resistance into regular organizational planning . Criteria include explicit routines for measurement and follow-up, promoting data‑driven behavior (e.g., prescribing rates, education program uptake). Measurable outcomes: a) Proportion of participating organizations implementing surveillance metrics. b) Use of data in planning and reporting antibiotic stewardship.
1.1. Swedish municipalities and regions can sign up to become antibiotic-smart, following a defined set of criteria spanning organization, routines, education, and measurement (Learn more: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/antibiotikasmart-sverige/in-english/antibiotic-smart-criteria/;
1. 2. After pilot testing in over 60 organizations, the criteria were finalized and formally launched in March 2024: https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/antibiotikasmart-sverige/in-english/antibiotic-smart-criteria/
1.3. Participating entities apply for official certification after meeting requirements, earning a one-year diploma that can be renewed upon demonstrating ongoing compliance : https://www.folkhalsomyndigheten.se/antibiotikasmart-sverige/in-english/antibiotic-smart-criteria/
Impact Indicators Involved: a. Number of signed-up municipalities/regions. b) Percentage that successfully complete all criteria. c)Annual certification renewals.
2. Whole‑of‑society engagement model: The initiative tracks and supports active involvement across three interconnected strands: “Smart People”, “Smart Municipalities & Regions”, and “National & International Collaboration”
Impact signals include: a) Number of outreach activities and stakeholder engagements. b)Participation rates in workshops, webinars, and local events. c) Increases in toolkits, guidelines, and communication support downloads.
3. Embedded in national surveillance & learning networks: The project builds upon Sweden’s existing surveillance infrastructure (e.g., STRAMA, MedRave, Infektionsverktyget) and aims to integrate antibiotic resistance into regular organizational planning . Criteria include explicit routines for measurement and follow-up, promoting data‑driven behavior (e.g., prescribing rates, education program uptake). Measurable outcomes: a) Proportion of participating organizations implementing surveillance metrics. b) Use of data in planning and reporting antibiotic stewardship.
Funding
Estimated budget
2 200 000 €
Documents
Documents
Upstream work guide
Exploring Information Activities of Swedish Regional Pharmaceutical Committees for Preventing Antibiotic Resistance: Lessons Learned and Areas for Improvement
Evidence for
Exploring Information Activities of Swedish Regional Pharmaceutical Committees for Preventing Antibiotic Resistance: Lessons Learned and Areas for Improvement
Document
Template for improvement work Antibioticsmart Sweden (pdf) available for screen readers
Word template without image
Evidence for
Word template without image
Document
PowerPoint
Evidence for
PowerPoint
Document
Powerpoint in English
Evidence for
Powerpoint
Document
Email signature
Evidence for
Image/banner Antibiotic Smart Sweden in email signature
Antibiotic Smart Sweden logo
Evidence for
Antibiotic Smart Sweden logo
Manual of communication
Evidence for
Communication guidelines
Document
Video Become antibiotic-smart
Good examples from antibiotic-smart businesses
Vinnova Rapport Antibiotikasmart Sverige (Vinnova Report: Antibiotic-Smart Sweden)
Evidence for
Vinnova Report: Antibiotic-Smart Sweden
The Public Health Agency of Sweden’s Annual Report 2024
Document