J Korean Med Assoc.  2022 Aug;65(8):468-477. 10.5124/jkma.2022.65.8.468.

Current status of multidrug-resistant bacteria

• Kim D
• Jeong SH

• KMID: 2532661
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2022.65.8.468

Abstract

Background
The dissemination of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogen is of major public health concern as it leads to increased mortality rate, length of hospital stays, and medical expenses.
Current Concepts
Korean Government enacted an Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act in 2009, and 6 MDR bacteria including methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, vancomycin-resistant S. aureus (VRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci, multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii, and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) have been legally declared as infectious diseases. According to the amendment of the Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act in 2020, CRE and VRSA were classified as class 2 infectious diseases, and all cases of CRE and VRSA should be reported to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus, vancomycin-resistant enterococci, multidrug-resistant P. aeruginosa, and multidrug-resistant A. baumannii were classified as class 4 infectious diseases, and cases that occur need to be monitored at KDCA-designated sentinel hospitals to prevent further dissemination.
Discussion and Conclusion
In this review, the current antimicrobial resistance status of six types of MDR bacteria, legally declared as infectious diseases, was investigated.. The Korean government is operating national antimicrobial resistance surveillance systems such as the Korean Antimicrobial Resistance Monitoring System and Korean Global Antimicrobial Surveillance System, as a foundation for preventing the spread of antimicrobial resistance. Certain steps need to be taken, such as establishing a surveillance system for antimicrobial usages, strengthening antimicrobial stewardship and infection control systems, and developing new antimicrobials in order for us to achieve the national goal.

Keyword

Anti-bacterial agents; Bacterial drug resistance; Methicillin-resistant; Vancomycin resistant; Vancomycin-resistant enterococci; 항생제; 항생제내성; 메티실린내성 황색포도알균; 반코마이신내성 황색포도알균; 반코마이신내성 장알균