Cyprus has topped the list of EU countries in the use of antibiotics

Cyprus tops the list of EU countries where residents more frequently use antibiotics, with every second person consuming them annually.

Andreas Stylianou, the head of the Cyprus Pathological Anatomy Company, stated that a significant percentage of infections in patients receiving treatment in hospitals and beyond are caused by microbes resistant to antibiotics. Additionally, a considerable portion of the population purchases antibiotics at pharmacies without a doctor's prescription.

Another third of the population keeps antibiotics at home for emergency situations and engages in self-medication without consulting a doctor, and 80% of Cypriots mistakenly believe that antibiotics are effective against viruses.

Andreas Stylianou emphasized that antibiotics should not be taken for infections caused by viruses, such as the flu, colds, and certain types of sore throat and gastroenteritis.

Incorrect and reckless use of antibiotics leads to the spread of antibiotic-resistant microbes, replacing sensitive microbes that reside in our normal flora, added the medical professional.