Greece Faces Public Health and Tourism Crisis Due to Antibiotic-Resistant Superbugs

Greece is grappling with a serious public health crisis as antibiotic-resistant superbugs proliferate in its hospitals, posing a potential threat to its vital tourism industry.

A recent report by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), following an April 2023 site visit, declared Greek hospitals unsafe due to the high prevalence of multidrug-resistant infections. This alarming situation is exacerbated by Greece's leading position in Europe for antibiotic consumption.

The ECDC report specifically highlighted the presence of dangerous pathogens like Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii, resistant to multiple antibiotics. This raises concerns about potential travel advisories from other countries, impacting Greece's tourism sector, as warned by Nikolaos Sypsas, President of the Hellenic Society for Infectious Diseases.

The severity of the issue is underscored by the recent death of psychiatrist Dimitris Soura from an invasive staphylococcal infection, a stark reminder of the dangers posed by these superbugs. These pathogens can cause life-threatening infections like pneumonia, sepsis, and surgical site infections, rendering even the most powerful antibiotics ineffective.

Overuse of Antibiotics Fuels the Crisis:

Greece's high antibiotic consumption rate is a major contributing factor to this crisis. According to the European Surveillance of Antimicrobial Consumption Network (ESAC-Net), Greece far exceeds the EU average, using 28.5 daily doses per 1,000 residents compared to the EU average of 20. Greek hospitals also lead in the prescription of "last-resort" antibiotics for multidrug-resistant bacteria.

Aikaterini Argyraki, General Secretary of the Hellenic Society for Infectious Diseases, points to a cultural tendency of patients pressuring doctors for antibiotics, even for viral infections where they are useless. This overuse creates a vicious cycle: common antibiotics lose their effectiveness, necessitating stronger drugs, further fueling the rise of resistant microbes. Even outside hospitals, poor hygiene practices, such as inadequate handwashing, contribute to the spread of these microbes.

Global Implications, Local Action:

The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that multidrug-resistant microbes directly cause 1.3 million deaths annually and contribute to 5 million more. By 2050, these infections could become the leading cause of death globally, surpassing cancer and cardiovascular diseases. This makes addressing the issue in Greece, where the problem is chronic, even more urgent.

Hope for the Future:

While the situation is dire, there are glimmers of hope. Funding from the EU Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) is supporting the Greek National Public Health Organization (EODY) in implementing measures to combat the crisis. These efforts include hiring infection control nurses, improving data collection, and equipping hospitals with advanced tools, particularly in pulmonary laboratories.

However, experts emphasize that sustained investment and organized action from the Greek government are crucial for long-term success. Without these, the fight against antimicrobial resistance will remain an uphill battle.