Cyprus is among the European countries with the highest consumption of antibiotics and the highest rates of antimicrobial resistance, which caused approximately 700 deaths on the island in 2019 alone.

Across the EU in 2020, antimicrobial resistance accounted for 35,000 deaths, Health Minister Michael Damianos said during a press conference on Thursday to launch a national awareness campaign on the proper use of antibiotics and combating antimicrobial resistance.

The campaign, organised by Cyprus’ pathology, paediatric and microbiology organisations, will run from December 6 to 13, under the auspices of the health ministry and medical association.

Cyprus has consistently ranked among EU countries with the highest antibiotic use in recent years. Medical professionals have warned that the misuse and overuse of antibiotics could render therapies ineffective and lead to long-term health problems.

In 2019, 140 deaths were directly attributed to antimicrobial resistance in Cyprus, with another 547 deaths linked to resistance-related complications. That same year, the World Health Organisation (WHO) identified antimicrobial resistance as one of the ten greatest threats to global public health.

The WHO attributed the rise in resistance partly to the overuse of antibiotics, stressing the urgent need for their rational use. Damianos echoed this, warning that without immediate measures, antimicrobial resistance could surpass cancer as a leading cause of death by 2050.

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.

Chairman of the Medical Association Petros Agathangelou said the campaign was expected to act as a catalyst towards changing public perception and behaviour regarding antibiotics.

He added that antimicrobial resistance was responsible for 1.27 million deaths per year worldwide.

Head of the Pathology Society Andreas Stylianou raised the alarm for Cyprus and Greece, which he said recorded the highest consumption of antibiotics and antimicrobial resistance in Europe.

He cautioned that infections from resistant microbes often result in severe complications, prolonged hospital stays, and even death.

Paediatric Society President Michalis Anastasiades added that the misuse of antibiotics is particularly harmful to children, whose developing bodies can suffer long-term consequences.

Clinical Microbiology and Infection Society Head Georgios Petrikkos described antimicrobial resistance as one of the gravest threats to public health. He warned that excessive and improper use of antibiotics accelerates resistance and jeopardises public well-being.

Globally, WHO estimates that antimicrobial resistance was directly responsible for 1.27 million deaths in 2019 and contributed to 4.95 million. It has cautioned that resistance undermines the achievements of modern medicine, making infections harder to treat and increasing the risks associated with surgeries, caesarean sections and cancer treatments.