J Mycol Infect.  2020 Sep;25(3):51-56. 10.17966/JMI.2020.25.3.51.

Trends in Bacterial Skin Infections and their Antibiotic Susceptibility in Korea: a 13-year Single-center Study

• Jeong JH
• Lee JY
• Lee SH
• Lee AY
• Hong JS

• KMID: 2511721
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.17966/JMI.2020.25.3.51

Abstract

Background
The kinds and identification rates of major bacteria causing bacterial skin infections have changed steadily over time. Although studies of the causative pathogen changes over time have been reported worldwide, no follow-up studies of bacterial skin infections have been conducted in Korea since 2009.
Objective
To investigate the changes in the identification rate and antibiotic susceptibility of causative pathogens of bacterial skin infections, especially S. aureus, over time in Korea.
Methods
This study was conducted in outpatient clinics in 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, and 2018, in which the data on age, sex, identification of bacteria, and susceptibility to antibiotics were retrospectively analyzed.
Results
Of the 350 cases, except for suspected normal flora, 213 (60.9%) were positive for S. aureus, accounting for the highest percentage, followed by 22 (6.3%) for P. aeruginosa, 7 (2%) for Serratia marcescens, and 6 (1.7%) for Bacillus species, Enterococcus faecalis, and Staphylococcus lugdunensis. The identification rate of methicillinresistant S. aureus (MRSA) increased from 2009 to 2015 and then decreased in 2018.
Conclusion
The proportion of MRSA gradually increased from 2006 to 2015 but suddenly reversed in 2018, possibly due to improved education for infection prevention or changes in the virulence of the circulating strains of MRSA. Also, based on our findings, MRSA is currently susceptible to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole and vancomycin.

Keyword

Antibiotics; Bacterial skin infections; MRSA; S. aureus