HSE warns of growing threat of antibiotic resistance amid increased misuse

The health impact of infections that are resistant to antibiotics can be compared to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined. 

Overuse and misuse of antibiotics can lead to these drugs losing their effectiveness at an "unforeseen pace," the HSE has warned.

The health impact of infections that are resistant to antibiotics can be compared to that of influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS combined.

As part of European Antibiotics Awareness Day, the public is reminded to only use antibiotics when needed. These drugs cannot help when a virus causes the infection.

The awareness day is an annual event from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), which coincides with the World Health Organisation's World Antimicrobial Awareness Week.

Antibiotic consumption in the EU increased by one percent between 2019 and 2023, moving further away from the 2030 target of a 20% reduction recommended by the European Union Council.

According to the ECDC, there have been significant reductions in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bloodstream infections during the same period.

However, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections have worsened**, with a 60% increase in incidence.

"This represents a growing threat to patients in hospitals across the EU, particularly since very few therapeutic options remain available to treat patients infected with carbapenem-resistant K. pneumoniae," the ECDC said.

The HSE is also reminding the public to practice good infection control measures to prevent infections from spreading.

HSE National Clinical Lead of Antimicrobial Resistance and Infection Control, Dr Eimear Brannigan, said that unfortunately, over the last century, "antibiotics have been used in people, animals, and crops, often when they were not always appropriate."

"Antibiotics are lifesaving drugs when used appropriately to treat bacterial infections and are usually very safe for us," she said.

"We have become reliant on antibiotics being effective to treat or prevent infection during many of our routine operations, treatments, and for critical surgeries such as organ transplants, cancer treatment, and many illnesses.

"Unfortunately, over the last 100 years or so a lot of antibiotics have been used in people, animals and crops, often when they were not always appropriate. Because of this antibiotic use, many bacteria have adapted so that antibiotics no longer work as well as they did 20 years ago," Dr Brannigan added.

She also highlighted that bacteria, or bugs, can become resistant to different types of antibiotics, which can lead to the development of 'superbugs.'

"So, antibiotics that once worked well to treat an infection may no longer work as well as before or do not work at all. This is known as antibiotic resistance," Dr Brannigan said.