Malta has third highest rate of antibiotic resistant infections in Europe

by Juan Ameen

A recently published European report has found that Malta has the third highest percentage of potentially deadly antibiotic-resistant hospital-acquired infections out of a list of 29 countries.

The report, which was compiled by the European Centre for Disease Prevention, found that Malta had an MRSA rate of around 55 per cent in 2005.

The study pointed out that, at present, the most important disease threat is from microorganisms that have become resistant to antibiotics. However, it went on to say that these are becoming a bigger problem outside hospitals because the microorganisms are also circulating within the community.

Romania had the highest rate of MRSA with almost 72 per cent, followed by Cyprus with around 65 per cent.

Malta came next with around 55 per cent, a slight reduction over last year’s figure of 57 per cent.

It estimated that around three million people in the EU catch a healthcare-associated infection that is fatal in around 50,000 cases.

It attributed the problem to the over-use or inappropriate use of antibiotic and anti-viral drugs, the spread of drug-resistant microbes, especially in hospitals, clinics and care centres, and a shortage of new antibiotic drugs.

“A key factor for the development of antimicrobial resistance is the amount of antibiotics used,” it said.

The study noted that detailed data on the use of antibiotics and its consumption patterns are difficult to obtain but pointed out that it is “difficult to understand why the amount of antibiotics consumed per inhabitant varies three-fold between member states.”