On European Antibiotic Awareness Day, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) publishes the results of two point-prevalence surveys of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial use in hospitals and in long-term care facilities in the EU/EEA. The findings show that practices in terms of antimicrobial use vary from country to country throughout Europe and that, overall, there is room for improvement. Furthermore, healthcare-associated infections remain a serious issue, with 8.9 million occurring each year in both hospitals and long-term care facilities. Overuse of antimicrobials - mostly antibiotics - and varying infection prevention and control practices may result in the increased emergence and spread of multidrug-resistant bacteria in the EU/EEA.
Vytenis Andriukaitis, European Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, said: "The rising number of Europeans who are dying or who become disabled from infections that are resistant to antimicrobials is of great concern to me and to the European Commission. We can avoid many of these deaths by stopping the unnecessary use of antimicrobials in healthcare and in agriculture, and through better diagnosis and prevention of infection in healthcare settings and communities. I am proud of the work that our partners in EU Member States, together with the European Commission and the EU agencies, do to implement the European One Health Action Plan against Antimicrobial Resistance. I call on everyone who has influence on the prevention and treatment of infections to redouble their efforts to combat this threat".
The studies showed that there still are sources of unnecessary use of antimicrobials in hospitals and in long-term care facilities. In hospitals, the proportion of broad-spectrum antimicrobials used varied from 16% to 62% across Europe. These medicines are not always necessary and their use drives antimicrobial resistance. In addition, more than 50% of antimicrobial courses for surgical prophylaxis, i.e. antimicrobials given to patients to prevent infections in relation with surgical procedures, lasted more than one day although continuing antimicrobial prophylaxis after the end of intervention is not recommended. In long-term care facilities, 29% of antimicrobials were prescribed for prophylaxis, and 74% of those courses were given to prevent urinary tract infections. While this might reduce the risk of infection in women, there is no evidence about its effectiveness when applied widely to elderly patients.
The surveys also confirm that healthcare-associated infections remain a public health issue in the EU/EEA. ECDC estimates that on any given day one in 15 patients in European hospitals, and one in 26 residents in long-term care facilities, have at least one healthcare-associated infection. Many of them were caused by multidrug-resistant bacteria.
Andrea Ammon, ECDC Director, stated: "With 33000 deaths each year as a consequence of an infection due to bacteria resistant to antimicrobials and EUR 1 billion in annual healthcare expenditure, we need to ensure that these medicines are used prudently and that infection prevention and control measures are in place in all healthcare settings across Europe". She added: "Since the rates of antimicrobial resistance, the rates of antimicrobial consumption as well as infection prevention and control practices vary from country to country, it is essential to tailor strategies to address specific needs. ECDC calls for continued action at all levels".
Zsuzsanna Jakab, WHO Regional Director for Europe said: "Human, animal, and environment health are all equally responsible for the correct use of antimicrobials and to avert the threat of antimicrobial resistance. As we strive to ensure that these medicines are rightly used in the community and in healthcare settings, one sector alone will not solve the problem. "One Health" brings together professionals in human, animal, food and environment health as one force, and as such is the only way to keep antimicrobials working. I call on all European countries to secure the highest commitment to this approach from the whole of society and the whole of government".
###
Notes to the editor :
European Antibiotic Awareness Day
European Antibiotic Awareness Day (EAAD) is a European health initiative coordinated by ECDC, which provides a platform and support for national campaigns on the prudent use of antibiotics. Each year, EAAD is marked by national campaigns during the week of 18 November. Prudent use means only using antibiotics when they are needed, with the correct dose, dosage intervals and duration of the course http://antibiotic.ecdc.europa.eu .
On 15 November 2018 from 09.00 to 13.00 CET, an event called "One Health to Keep Antibiotics Working" will take place in Brussels, Belgium. The event is organised by ECDC in coordination with the European Commission. Event participants include professional organisations with an interest in antibiotic resistance, representatives from EU/EEA Member States and national and Brussels-based media. Watch the live stream on ECDC's YouTube channel or EAAD's Facebook page. The panel will respond to questions using the hashtag #EAAD.
World Antibiotic Awareness Week
In 2018, the WHO Regional Office for Europe focuses its WAAW on how One Health can help reduce antimicrobial resistance as a one-government approach. The One Health approach recognises that human, animal and environment health cannot be separated and that working across sectors can bring real progress. Follow the hashtag #AntibioticResistance. http://www.who.int/campaigns/world-antibiotic-awareness-week/en/ .
Media contacts:
ECDC press office
Tel: +46-0-8-586-01-678
Email: press@ecdc.europa.eu "> press@ecdc.europa.eu
Social media:
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/eaad_eu
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EAAD.EU
Instagram : http://www.instagram.com/eaad_eu