Anders Johansson

We are researching the transmission routes of infection in society and in healthcare, we predict the risk of infection outbreaks and risk for individuals, and we aim at mitigation of threats from microbes that are resistant to antimicrobial drugs. 

In our research, we combine clinical data with analyses of disease-causing microbes using molecular microbiology methods, genome sequencing, phylogenetics, spatiotemporal analysis, and epidemiology methods. We use artificial intelligence methods for big data analyses to predict infection risks of individuals, to more rapidly detect infections, and for automated surveillance of healthcare-associated infections. We recognize that the behavior of humans determines the risk of most infections and are inyterested in intervention studies promoting better antimicrobial drug use and reducing the risk of healthcare-associated infections. Starting during the COVID-19 pandemic, we established a cohort study at >100 nursing homes in Sweden and enrolled more than 4000 nursing home residents to study immune responses to vaccinations and infections. By repeated blood sampling and analyses of register data, we estimate infection burden and analyze risk factors of common and severe infections at nursing homes including sepsis, shingles, COVID-19, RSV and influenza. 

From October 2026 Anders Johansson is the State Epidemiologist of Sweden/Department Head Department of Communicable Disease Control and Preparedness at the Public Health Agency of Sweden.