Norwegian surveillance finds ongoing healthcare-associated infections and rising use of selected antibiotics

The Norwegian Institute of Public Health’s 2025 NOIS annual report presents results from national one-day surveys conducted in hospitals and nursing homes in spring and autumn, alongside continuous surveillance of infections after three types of surgery. The surveys provide snapshots of healthcare-associated infections and antibiotic use; the report does not state the number of patients or institutions surveyed in the supplied text.

About one in 25 hospital patients and nursing-home residents had a healthcare-associated infection. Urinary tract infections were most common in nursing homes, while surgical-site infections were most common in hospitals. Infection rates varied between hospital departments. Infection after hip replacement declined over 2015–2025, whereas rates after caesarean section in 2024 and 2025 were the highest recorded since 2017.

On survey days, 29% of hospital patients and about 5% of nursing-home residents received at least one antibiotic. Antibiotics classified as resistance-driving accounted for 38% of recorded hospital antibiotic treatment and 12% in nursing homes. Hospital use of third-generation and higher cephalosporins and penicillins with enzyme inhibitors increased during 2016–2025. The report says this increase does not necessarily indicate inappropriate use, but recommends monitoring use against national recommendations. The one-day surveys are snapshots, and the supplied report summary gives no sample sizes.