Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Credit: NIH/NIAID

The European Union health agency on Monday warned that Europe was set to miss goals on reducing the use of antibiotics, calling for action to prevent antimicrobial resistance from undermining health care.

The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) said consumption of antibiotics in the EU had increased by one percent between 2019 and 2023, meaning it was "moving further away from the 2030 target of a 20 percent reduction" recommended by the EU.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) occurs when bacteria, viruses and parasites no longer respond to antimicrobial medicines such as antibiotics, which the ECDC noted represented a danger to public health.

Increased resistance represented "a growing threat to patients in hospitals across the EU, particularly since very few therapeutic options remain available to treat patients", the ECDC warned.

It also said that without action, the EU was unlikely to reach its targets, calling for a "united, urgent response" to the problem.

"This response is key to protecting patients and sustaining the effectiveness of antibiotics for future generations," ECDC Director Pamela Rendi-Wagner said in a statement.

The agency recommended a three-pronged approach: infection prevention and control, prudent use of antimicrobials, and the development of and access to novel antimicrobials.

"Reducing the use of antibiotics requires more information and public awareness campaigns, complemented by social and behavioral interventions to prevent their unnecessary use," the ECDC said.

© 2024 AFP