Brussels, 23/10/2013 (Agence Europe) - On 22 October, the European Parliament adopted an own initiative report asking the European Commission to work on patient safety and the prevention of diseases associated with patient treatment, more commonly called nosocomial diseases. The co-rapporteur, Michèle Rivasi (Greens/EFA, France) warned of the problem of resistance to antibiotics and welcomed the adoption of amendments proposed on this by ecologists. In the face of an over-consumption of antibiotics, Rivasi proposed an amendment promoting phage-therapy, an alternative to antibiotics which uses phages (viruses) that eat other viruses. In addition to strengthening the basic rules of hygiene and decontamination, the Greens wanted progress in terms of treating resistance and recognising patient expertise. The ball is now in the Commission's court, which should take this resolution and propose legislation from it, the Greens state. (IL/transl.fl)