Changing Epidemiology of Pathogenic Bacteria Over the Past 20 Years in Korea
Mi Hyun Bae, Min‐Sun Kim, Taek Soo Kim, Sun‐Joo Kim, Dongeun Yong, Gyoung Yim Ha, Nam Hee Ryoo, Young Uh, Jong Hee Shin, Hye Soo Lee, Yong–Hak Sohn, Sue Shin, Mi‐Na Kim
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The epidemiology of pathogenic bacteria varies according to the socioeconomic status and antimicrobial resistance status. However, longitudinal epidemiological studies to evaluate the changes in species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria nationwide are lacking. We retrospectively investigated the nationwide trends in species distribution and antimicrobial susceptibility of pathogenic bacteria over the last 20 years in Korea. METHODS: From 1997 to 2016, annual cumulative antimicrobial susceptibility and species distribution data were collected from 12 university hospitals in five provinces and four metropolitan cities in South Korea. RESULTS: decreased to 77.1% in 2016. CONCLUSION: The epidemiology of pathogenic bacteria has changed significantly over the past 20 years according to trends in antimicrobial resistance in Korea. Efforts to confine antimicrobial resistance would change the epidemiology of pathogenic bacteria and, consequently, the diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases.