Characteristics of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales in the Chungcheong Region of Republic of Korea, 2024

초록

Antimicrobial resistance is increasing worldwide. In particular, the rising incidence of infections caused by Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), which have limited treatment options, has been identified as an important public health threat. This report aimed to analyze the characteristics of CRE infections in the Chungcheong region in 2024 and discuss their public health implications. This analysis was based on CRE infection cases reported through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency's integrated infectious disease surveillance system from 2020 to 2024. In 2024, a total of 2,454 CRE infection cases were reported in the Chungcheong region. The proportion of individuals aged 70 years and older showed a yearly increasing trend, rising from 62.7% (459 cases) in 2020 to 69.4% (1,702 cases) in 2024. By type of healthcare institution, general hospitals accounted for the largest proportion of reported cases at 51.7% (1,269 cases), while long-term care hospitals accounted for 16.1% (394 cases), which were identified for the first time in 2024. Among Carbapenemase-producing CRE (CP-CRE) infections, Klebsiella pneumoniae was the most frequently detected species, accounting for 66.4% of cases, and the most commonly identified carbapenemase gene type was Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase, accounting for 78.7% of cases. Since CRE infections were designated as a nationally notifiable infectious disease in the Republic of Korea in 2017, the number of reported cases in the Chungcheong region has increased annually, and the proportion of CP-CRE infections has also risen. In particular, the initially reported cases in long-term care hospitals highlight the importance of infection prevention and control in these facilities. Active cooperation among medical institutions, local governments, and the central government is required to strengthen CRE infection surveillance and response. Copyright © Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency.

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