Cyprus to launch e-platform to monitor hospital infections

In a bid to enhance hospital infection monitoring, Cyprus plans to launch a specialized electronic platform by the end of 2025, according to Elizabeth Constantinou, Director of Medical Services at the Ministry of Health. Presently, there's no comprehensive surveillance system for hospital-acquired infections, but data on antimicrobial resistance are recorded sporadically and submitted to the World Health Organization.

Constantinou highlighted Cyprus' alarming ranking in hospital-acquired infections and antimicrobial resistance, citing the need for systematic data collection. To address this, the Ministry aims to mandate all hospitals to report infections on the electronic platform by 2025, aligning with ECDC recommendations.

A training program for nurses, focusing on infection management, is underway in collaboration with the nursing education sector. Additionally, guidelines for infection prevention are being updated.

Markella Markou, from the Infectious Diseases Epidemiological Surveillance and Control Unit, emphasized the absence of a structured surveillance system. To bridge this gap, a proposal for the electronic platform is included in Cyprus' Recovery and Resilience Plan, targeting implementation by the end of 2025. The platform aims to streamline data collection from both public and private hospitals, facilitating centralized monitoring by the Ministry of Health.

[Information sourced from CNA]