Antibiotic Centre for Primary Care (ASP) is a national center of competence established in 2006 by the initiative of the Norwegian Institute of Public Health. The center is located at the Department of Primary Care, University of Oslo.
The purpose of the centre is to promote a rational and restricted use of antibiotics in primary care, and by doing so prevent the development of antibiotic resistance in Norway.
The center has three main tasks:
- Academic development, research and quality control in primary care
- Information towards the public on antibiotics and resistance
- Participation in primary, secondary and postgraduate education of GP’s and other health professionals
Another task for the center is the revision and implementation of the National Guidelines for Antibiotic Use in Primary Care, which is carried out in cooperation with The Norwegian Health Directorate.
Background
The development of antibiotic resistance is an increasing threat to public health. ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) has estimated that more than 33 000 deaths in Europe each year can be linked to antibiotic resistance.
The main reason for the development of antibiotic resistance is an overuse of antibiotics. Norway has a low consumption compared to other countries, but to prevent the increasing threat, the Norwegian Ministry of Health has decided that the consumption of antibiotics should be reduced by 30 percent within the year of 2020 in Norway.
The work of the Antibiotic Centre for Primary Care to promote a rational and restricted use of antibiotics in primary care, and prevent the development of antibiotic resistance in Norway, is therefore highly important.
Photo: Ine Eriksen, University of Oslo (UiO)