Greece and Cyprus Lead Europe in Antibiotic Use
Greece and Cyprus Lead Europe in Antibiotic Use
Greece and Cyprus have the highest rates of antibiotic consumption in Europe, according to the latest data from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).
Scientists warn that excessive use of antibiotics leads to several significant problems, primarily related to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), which poses a critical threat to health.
To add to the problems, the current generation of antibiotics, developed decades ago, is fast approaching the end of its usefulness, and deaths from resistant strains of viruses are expected to increase nearly substantially if the development of newer drugs continues at a snail’s pace.
Data on antibiotic use in Greece and Cyprus
According to the ECDC’s latest data between 2019 and 2023, antibiotic consumption in the EU increased by 1 percent, moving further away from the 2030 target of a 20 percent reduction recommended by the EU.
The consumption of antibiotics in Greece was 28.5 defined daily doses (DDD) per 1,000 inhabitants, a significant drop from 32.9 DDDs in 2022, but still way above the European Union average of 20 DDDs.
In Cyprus the DDDs for 2022, the most recent year Nicosia provided data, was 33.5.
A recent report from the ECDC, based on their April visit to Greece, reveals troubling signs of widespread drug-resistant bacteria at Greek hospitals.
The experts noted that Greece and Cyprus have some of the highest rates of antibiotic consumption, contributing to high rates of infections and deaths from multi-drug resistant bacteria, such as Klebsiella and Enterobacteriaceae.
Doctors say that patients tend to self-medicate, often keeping antibiotics past their shelf life. About 30 percent of Greek patients use antibiotics left over from previous treatments, on their own and without turning to doctors for guidance.
Many take antibiotics in a misguided effort to battle simple everyday winter viruses which bring coughing, a sore throat, and nasal congestion, symptoms that do not even require a physician’s help.
Cyprus launches national campaign
Cyprus on Thursday launched a national awareness campaign on the proper use of antibiotics and combating antimicrobial resistance.
In 2019, 140 deaths were directly attributed to antimicrobial resistance in Cyprus, with another 547 deaths linked to resistance-related complications, Health Minister Michael Damianos said.
He urged the public to avoid taking antibiotics without medical advice and to strictly follow doctors’ instructions when prescribed.
The health minister said a comprehensive national action plan was in the pipeline to address antimicrobial resistance and hospital infections, on top of other actions already being implemented, such as training and supervision.
Antimicrobial resistance kills
By 2050, nearly 39 million people are projected to die from infections that no longer respond to medication due to antibiotic resistance, according to a study recently published in the British medical journal, The Lancet.
Researchers predict a 70% increase in deaths from these unstoppable infections from 2022 to 2050, with the elderly most vulnerable. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) develops when bacteria and fungi evolve, rendering existing medications ineffective.