New data released by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) on European Antibiotic Awareness Day show that antimicrobial resistance poses a significant threat to public health in Cyprus.
The ECDC reports indicate that Cyprus holds the top spot in the EU for blood infections caused by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Furthermore, the country saw a worrying 659% increase in multi-drug resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae blood infections between 2019 and 2024.
Despite the high resistance rates, Cyprus did drop to sixth place in the EU for overall antibiotic consumption, although it remains close to the top of the ranking.
Highest MRSA rate in Europe
The data shows that Cyprus’s rate for MRSA—a common bacterium that complicates treatment—is more than triple the European average and sits at the highest level recorded in any EU country.
- The average MRSA incidence across the EU is just over 4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
- In Cyprus, the rate reached 13.63 cases per 100,000 inhabitants in 2024.
This figure reflects a continuous increase in Cyprus over the last five years, reaching the highest level recorded across Europe by the ECDC.
The situation is even more alarming for Klebsiella pneumoniae that is resistant to powerful, broad-spectrum antibiotics, such as carbapenems. While the EU average for this type of blood infection is 3.51 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, Cyprus recorded 19.81 cases in 2024—nearly six times the European average and close to the absolute highest limit recorded by any state.
Cyprus also registers high rates of resistant E.coli, with 19.56 cases per 100,000 population in 2024, showing a 215.5% increase over the last five years.
Experts warn of ‘killer pathogens’
Commenting on the ECDC data, Physician and Infectiologist Nikolaos Spernovasilis told Phileleftheros that the persistent “significant problem of microbial resistance for several multi-drug resistant bacterial pathogens” is deeply concerning.
Spernovasilis detailed the high incidence rates:
- E.coli resistant to third-generation cephalosporins: 19.56 cases per 100,000 (third highest in Europe).
- Klebsiella pneumoniae resistant to carbapenems: 19.81 cases per 100,000 (second highest in Europe).
- MRSA: 13.63 cases per 100,000 (highest in Europe).
He noted that the last two bacteria, when circulating in the blood, “are ‘killer pathogens’.”
The infectiologist warned that these “exceedingly worrisome” findings should immediately alarm authorities responsible for public health. He stressed that with Cyprus soon taking over the Presidency of the Council of the European Union, these findings are “no credit to the Republic” and that “even more actions to limit this very serious problem of antimicrobial resistance must be taken immediately.”
Antibiotic sonsumption still high
Despite falling to sixth place in the EU for consumption, experts cautioned against complacency. Constantinos Tsioutis, Scientific Coordinator of the European Committee for Infection Control, emphasised that while there appears to be a reduction, Cyprus remains “high, and much higher than Europe,” while also consuming a large proportion of antibiotics that should not be administered as a first-line defence.
The EU goal is to reduce overall consumption by 20% by 2030 compared to 2019 levels. However, current data shows EU-wide consumption is 2% higher than five years ago. The EU average is 20.3 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day. Cyprus clearly falls into the high-consumption category, above the EU average, while Greece registers the highest consumption in Europe.
Mr. Spernovasilis observed that the data indicates an improvement in the cumulative consumption of antibacterials in the community and hospital sectors for 2024, with 23.5 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day, down from 33.5 in 2022. He stated that while this decrease is cautiously encouraging, efforts to curb the irrational use of antibiotics must continue and intensify.
In a separate announcement marking Antibiotic Awareness Day, the Ministry of Health reminded the public of the “critical importance of the rational use of antibiotics,” noting that microbial resistance poses a major public health threat and that “the issue takes on a particular dimension in Cyprus, given the high consumption of antibiotics and the increased rates of microbial resistance.”
The Ministry highlighted positive steps already taken, including mandatory electronic prescription, awareness campaigns, and a recent Council of Ministers decision to establish Local Infection Control Committees and Antimicrobial Stewardship Teams in all hospitals.
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