33000 people in EU die every year due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria

Infection prevention has never been more important. According to a study recently published in the scientific journal The Lancet, more than 33,000 people die in Europe every year as a direct consequence of infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria. 75 percent of these infections are so called healthcare associated infections (HAI).

An ECDC (European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control) study estimates that about 33000 people die each year as a direct consequence of infections caused by bacteria resistant to antibiotics and that the burden of these infections is comparable to that of influenza, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS combined.

The study, based on data from the European Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network (EARS-Net)from 2015, also shows that 39% of the burden is caused by bacteria resistant to last-line antibiotics such as carbapenems and colistin, which are early stage antibiotics with significant negative side effects. This is an increase from 2007 and worrying since these antibiotics are the last treatment options available. When these are no longer effective, it will be extremely difficult or, in many cases, impossible to treat infections.

The authors highlight that a large proportion of the burden is due to healthcare associated infections, and that enhanced infection prevention and control measures should be a clear ambition an d priority both at the EU/EEA and global level.

Bactiguard’s infection protection solutions reduces the risk of healthcare associated infections, the use of antibiotics and thus the spread of multi-resistant bacteria. Reduction in microbial adhesion and colonization to Bactiguard coated device surfaces for bacteria that have developed resistance against bacteria, such as MRSA and ESBL, has been verified in vitro.

Link to: The Lancet article 

Read more about Bactiguard’s infection protection solutions: www.bactiguard.com