Antimicrobial resistance

Development of Antimicrobial Resistance in Finland

The incidence of invasive MRSA infections, meaning infections in which the bacterium is isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid, has increased in Finland since 2019. In 2025, the incidence was 2.0 per 100,000 population, which is 2.5 times higher compared with 2019 (0.8 per 100,000). The incidence of MRSA has increased especially after the COVID-19 pandemic, starting from 2023.

Incidence of invasive MRSA infections year 2012 – 2025
Year	Incidence / 100 000
2012	0,6
2013	0,6
2014	0,8
2015	0,8
2016	0,9
2017	0,8
2018	0,8
2019	0,8
2020	1,2
2021	1,1
2022	1,1
2023	1,4
2024	1,8
2025	2

The incidence of invasive, that is, isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid, third-generation cephalosporin-resistant K. pneumoniae infections has increased steadily in Finland throughout the entire surveillance period since 2008.

The incidence of invasive, that is, isolated from blood or cerebrospinal fluid, third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli infections increased steadily in Finland until 2018, after which the increase has levelled off.

Klebsiella- and other Enterobakterales-species resistant to carbapenems are rarely isolated from invasive infections in Finland.

Monitoring of Antimicrobial Resistance

In Finland, the antimicrobial resistance situation is monitored through several systems. Clinical laboratories report resistance data for certain microbes to the National Infectious Diseases Register.

Resistant microbial findings to be reported to the National Infectious Diseases Register:

MRSA, i.e. methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
VRE, i.e. vancomycin-resistant enterococci (Enterococcus faecium and Enterococcus faecalis)
Third-generation cephalosporin reduced susceptibility and resistant Escherichia coli, i.e. possible ESBL-E. coli
Third-generation cephalosporin reduced susceptibility and resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, i.e. possible ESBL-K. pneumoniae
Carbapenem reduced susceptibility and resistant Enterobakterales bacteria (E. coli, K. pneumoniae and Enterobacter cloacae), i.e. possible carbapenemase-producing Enterobakterales (CPE).

The notifications collect information on both infections and carriage. Severe systemic infections in which the bacterium grows in blood or cerebrospinal fluid are reported separately.

Additionally, the register contains information on antimicrobial resistance in gonorrhoea and tuberculosis.

Monitoring of Antimicrobial Resistance at EU Level

Changes in the incidence of invasive MRSA, third-generation cephalosporin-resistant E. coli, and carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae infections are monitored at EU level. Each Member State has infection reduction targets to be achieved by 2030.