In recent years the emergence of strains of drug-resistant bacteria has become a major health problem in many parts of the world. This has made it vitally necessary both to develop new antibacterial drugs and establish effective strategies to combat invading bacteria. In Norway, drug-resistant bacteria are a minor problem as yet, but the situation could change quite quickly if the necessary precautions are not taken. These include not prescribing antibacterial drugs too freely, and thoroughly surveying the extent of drug-resistance in an attempt to confine and prevent infection with resistant bacteria.