Antimicrobial resistance in Europe: new surveillance report published

A recent report on antibiotic resistance surveillance, jointly published by the European Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (ECDC) and WHO Europe, paints a concerning picture of high antibiotic resistance levels to third-generation antimicrobials (such as cephalosporins and carbapenems) in multiple countries in the WHO European Region. The report echoes past regional studies, revealing a north-to-south and west-to-east gradient, with higher AMR rates in Southern and Eastern Europe compared to their Northern and Western counterparts.    

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has become so severe that it's been called a "silent pandemic."    

The results presented in this report are based on AMR data from invasive isolates reported by 45 countries to the Central Asian and European surveillance of Antimicrobial Resistance (CAESAR) network and the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net) in 2022 (data referring to 2021).    

The AMR situation varied widely depending on bacterial species, antimicrobial group and geographical region.  

Resistance to third-generation cephalosporins and carbapenems was generally higher in Klebsiella pneumoniae than Escherichia coli. Carbapenem resistance was also common in Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter species, and at a higher percentage than in K. pneumoniae.    

In 2021, E. coli resistance to fluoroquinolones was generally lowest in Northern Europe and highest in Southern Europe. Two countries (4%) reported resistance rates below 10%, while 17 (38%) reported rates of 25% or higher, and four (9%) reported rates of 50% or higher. Third-generation cephalosporin resistance in E. coli showed 12 countries (27%) with rates below 10%, and four (9%) with rates equal to or above 50%.    

Third-generation cephalosporin resistance in K. pneumoniae has become widespread in the WHO European Region. In 2021, seven countries (16%) reported rates below 10%, and 19 (42%), mainly in the southern and eastern regions, reported rates of 50% or higher. 

Significant regional differences were observed in the percentages of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa, penicillin non-wild-type Streptococcus pneumoniae, and  carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. Resistance to vancomycin in Enterococcus faecium also varied considerably among countries in the region.  

Detailed information for each bacterial species, including patient age group and sex, can be found on the WHO European Region website.              

 

Source:  

https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/publications-data/antimicrobial-resistance-surveillance-europe-2023