Filenews 19 November 2025 - by Marilena Panayi
Antimicrobial resistance grinds our teeth with the data in Cyprus, as recorded in the reports released yesterday by the European Center for Infection Control (ECDC), with the occasion of the European Antibiotic Day causing particular concern.
In terms of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus (MRSA) cases, Cyprus is in first place in the case of blood infections. Regarding the multi-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae, the country recorded a 659% increase in blood infections from this particular bacterium from 2019 to 2024.
On the positive side, the fact that Cyprus fell to sixth place in the EU in terms of antibiotic consumption, while remaining very close to the top in the relevant ranking table.
In particular, MRSA, one of the most well-known germs that make treatment difficult, records an average in the EU of just over 4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In Cyprus, however, the corresponding value reaches 13.63 cases per 100,000, i.e., more than three times the European average and exactly at the highest recorded in any EU country. In fact, Cyprus has shown a continuous increase in the last five years, now reaching the highest level recorded by the ECDC in Europe.
Even more worrying is the picture of Klebsiella pneumoniae being resistant to very strong antibiotics (so-called, broad-spectrum antibiotics), such as carbapenems. In Europe, the average for the incidence of these infections in the blood is 3.51 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. In Cyprus, in 2024, the corresponding number reaches 19.81 cases, almost six times above the European average and very close to the absolute ceiling recorded by any state.
The rates of Cyprus are also high in terms of resistant E.coli with 19.56 cases per 100,000 population in 2024. In this case, Cyprus has shown an increase of 215.5% in the last five years and ranks high in Europe in terms of the incidence of bacteriaemia.
In terms of antibiotic consumption, the European Union has set a target of reducing overall use by 20% by 2030 compared to 2019. However, today's data show that not only is it not doing what is expected, but antibiotic consumption is now 2% higher than it was five years ago.
The EU average is 20.3 fixed daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day, while countries range from 9.8 to 29.9. In first place is Greece, with the highest consumption of antibiotics in Europe. Cyprus, according to ECDC data, clearly belongs to the countries with high consumption, above the European average.
"Killer pathogens"
Commenting on the data released yesterday, the Pathologist-Infectious Disease Specialist, Nikolaos Spernovasilis, stressed, speaking to "F", that "the fact that there is still a significant problem of antimicrobial resistance in the Republic for several multidrug-resistant bacterial pathogens, including strains of E.coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp. and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), causes particular concern". In fact, as he mentioned, "in Cyprus, the incidence of bacteremia (presence of a bacterium in the blood) from cephalosporin-resistant 3rd generation E.coli is 19.56 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (third highest in Europe), bacteremia from carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae 19.81 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (second highest in Europe), and bacteremia from MRSA 13.63 cases per 100,000 inhabitants (highest in Europe)".
Especially the last two bacteria, he said, "are 'killer pathogens' when they circulate in the blood." These data, he said, "are extremely worrying and, as reported every year, should alarm all those responsible for the health of the population. In an imminent year in which Cyprus will take over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, these findings do not honour Democracy and should immediately, literally, take even more actions to reduce this very serious problem of antimicrobial resistance".
Experts are sending out a danger signal
We consume 23.5 set daily doses of antibacterials per 1,000 inhabitants per day
The ranking of Cyprus in 6th place in the EU in terms of antibiotic consumption "should in no way cause complacency", stressed the scientific coordinator of the European Committee for Infection Control, Konstantinos Tsioutis. "It may seem like a decrease in how many antibiotics we consume, but we remain high, and much higher than Europe, while we also consume a large percentage of antibiotics that should not be administered on the front line," he pointed out.
The data show that "the picture is not only not positive, but it does not seem that the pan-European goals of reducing resistance and improving antibiotic consumption will be achieved. This shows that significant work is needed at the international level and, obviously, announcements and awareness-raising actions are not enough."
In Cyprus, he pointed out, "obviously positive steps have been taken. The mandatory electronic prescription of antibiotics, the information and training campaigns for staff, the recording of indicators in hospitals, as well as the recent decision of the Council of Ministers for the operation of Local Infection Control Committees and Antibiotic Logistics Teams in all hospitals in Cyprus are positive developments. However, they are only the first step, because, in essence, we need to talk about patient safety issues."
Infectious Disease Specialist Nikolaos Spirovasilis, specializing in the rational use of antimicrobials, in terms of antibiotic consumption, pointed out that "the picture is reflected improved in terms of the cumulative consumption of antibacterials (antibiotics) in the community and in the hospital sector for 2024, with 23.5 fixed daily doses of antibacterials per 1,000 inhabitants per day, compared to 33.5 for 2022 (in 2023 there are no data for Cyprus)". However, he noted, "this observation, in addition to a real reduction, may also represent changes in the way the consumption of antibacterials is calculated at the national level. In any case, this reduction is moderately encouraging, and the effort to further reduce their reckless use should continue and intensify. Already, there are some important actions to be implemented for this problem, but both the Ministry and the HIO should not remain only in them, because there is still a lot to be done."
The Ministry of Health, on the occasion of yesterday's antibiotic awareness day, in its own announcement reminded the "critical importance of the rational use of antibiotics and the strengthening of the resilience of the health system. Antimicrobial resistance, i.e. the ability of bacteria and other microorganisms to survive, despite the use of antibiotics, is a significant threat to Public Health, as it makes the treatment of infections more difficult or even impossible. In the European Union, thousands of deaths are recorded annually due to infections by resistant microbes. Antibiotics are vital drugs, but their reckless or incorrect use drastically reduces their effectiveness. In Cyprus, the issue acquires a special dimension, given the high consumption of antibiotics and the increased rates of antimicrobial resistance."
