Threat of super-resistant hospital infections grows in Cyprus

Cyprus has emerged as one of the European countries where the spread of dangerous bacteria resistant to the strongest antibiotics is being recorded. This is evidenced by the results of the largest European genomic study, published in the scientific journal Lancet Microbe and accompanied by a report from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC).

The study covered more than 300 hospitals in 36 European countries and focused on so-called super-resistant Enterobacteriaceae — microorganisms immune even to carbapenems. These antibiotics are considered one of the last and most effective treatments for severe bacterial infections.

In Cyprus, researchers' attention was particularly drawn to the bacterium Klebsiella pneumoniae, which often causes hospital-acquired infections and is especially dangerous for patients in intensive care and people with weakened immune systems.

According to the study data, 60 invasive strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae were registered on the island in 2019. Of these, eight were found to be resistant to carbapenems — that is 13.3% of the total number. In other words, approximately every eighth identified strain was resistant to treatment with some of modern medicine's most powerful antibiotics.

Experts warn that carbapenem resistance significantly complicates patient treatment, increases the risk of severe complications, and facilitates the spread of infections within hospitals.

The ECDC notes that the situation in Europe has deteriorated compared to previous data from 2013–2014. Additional concern is raised by the spread of the NDM-5 gene in E. coli bacteria — this gene is associated with extremely high resistance to antibiotics.

Specialists emphasize the need for stricter control over antibiotic use, strengthening sanitary measures in hospitals, and continuous monitoring of dangerous strains. Without this, super-resistant infections could become a permanent problem for European healthcare systems.