Prevention is key

Therefore, it is important that we learn more about infectious diseases in order to prevent them, instead of treating bacterial infections with antibiotics. This applies both when bacteria make up the primary infection and when a bacterial infection is secondary to another infection.

Another way of preventing infectious diseases is to improve the resistance of animals, e.g. through effective vaccines.

At SLU, there are many prominent researchers working with infections and how to prevent infectious diseases. Their research spans from general issues to aspects at molecular level. Many researchers are involved in international projects.

Using antibiotics in the right way

Antibiotics are sometimes prescribed for viral infections even though they do not have any effect. Improving diagnostic methods for viral as well as bacterial infections would make it easier for practising vets to identify what type of infection they are dealing with. That way, the right type of antibiotics can be given when needed.

It is important to remember that infections are global. Antibiotic resistance is something that very much affects us all.

At SLU, research relating to the antibiotics issue is carried out within several fields, primarily through our wide-spanning research on infectious diseases in our animals.