Across Europe, the threat of antibiotic-resistant infections is no longer a distant warning but a pressing reality. New data released this week paints a stark picture: superbugs are spreading faster than previously estimated, and the continent's health systems are struggling to keep pace.
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported that infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) — often called "nightmare bacteria" — have risen by nearly 50% in the past two years. These pathogens are resistant to some of the most powerful antibiotics available, leaving doctors with few treatment options.
A silent pandemic
"We are facing a silent pandemic," said Dr. Andrea Ammon, ECDC's director, in a press briefing on Thursday. "The COVID-19 crisis diverted attention, but antimicrobial resistance has not paused. It is accelerating."
The problem is particularly acute in southern and eastern Europe. In Greece, Italy, and Romania, rates of bloodstream infections caused by resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae have tripled since 2020. In Bulgaria and Hungary, hospitals report that nearly one in five ICU patients carries a multidrug-resistant organism.
Experts attribute the rise to a combination of factors: overuse of antibiotics in humans and livestock, inadequate infection control in some hospitals, and a lack of new drugs in the pipeline. The pharmaceutical industry has largely abandoned antibiotic development because it is not profitable enough, leaving a void that public-private partnerships are only beginning to fill.
Economic and human costs
The human toll is significant. The ECDC estimates that antimicrobial resistance causes over 35,000 deaths annually in the European Union and European Economic Area — more than the combined toll of influenza, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS. The economic burden is equally heavy, with prolonged hospital stays and expensive treatments costing an estimated €1.5 billion each year.
"This is not just a health issue; it is an economic and security issue," said Stella Kyriakides, the European Commissioner for Health. "We need a coordinated European response, from research funding to prudent use in farms and clinics."
In response, the European Commission has announced a new action plan to be unveiled in early 2027, which will include incentives for antibiotic research, stricter targets for reducing use, and a surveillance network to track resistance patterns in real time.
Some member states are already taking unilateral steps. France has banned the use of antibiotics as growth promoters in livestock, while the Netherlands has reduced antibiotic use in farming by 70% over the past decade. Germany is considering a mandatory reporting system for hospital infections.
But experts warn that national efforts are not enough. "Bacteria do not respect borders," said Dr. Esmita Charani, an infectious disease specialist at the University of Liverpool. "A superbug that emerges in one country can quickly spread across the continent through travel and trade. We need a unified strategy."
The ECDC is also calling on citizens to play their part by not demanding antibiotics for viral infections and by completing prescribed courses. Public awareness campaigns are being planned in several countries, including Spain and Poland.
As Europe heads into winter, when respiratory infections typically surge, the pressure on hospitals will only increase. The hope is that the new data will serve as a wake-up call — before the last line of defense fails.
