[Characteristics of Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) in the Republic of Korea, 2022].

Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) are species of bacteria in the family Enterobacteriaceae that are resistant to at least one of the carbapenem antibiotics. In 2019, World Health Organization declared antimicrobial resistance as "one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity," and with the continually increasing use of antibiotics worldwide, there is a correspondingly growing threat of resistance development among bacteria, thus necessitating more stringent surveillance and management. This report analyzed the 2022 domestic outbreak status of CRE infections with respect to patient age, type of medical institution, carbapenemase genes, and carbapenemase genotype. In 2022, 30,548 cases of CRE infections were reported in 1,257 medical institutions, and the number has been increasing every year since 2017, when the mandatory surveillance system was initiated, increasing by 155.5% compared to 2018 (11,954 cases). The mechanisms of carbapenem antibiotic resistance in CRE infections include carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CP-CRE) and Enterobacteriaceae species that are resistant to carbapenem antibiotics without producing carbapenemase (non-CP-CRE). Of the 30,548 reported cases of CRE infection, 71.0% (21,695 cases) were CPE infections, showing a 46.9% increase compared to 2021 (14,769 cases). The annual increase in CRE infections is becoming an increasingly concerning social burden, thus emphasizing the need for continuous prevention and management, along with the establishment of a surveillance system for identifying the epidemiological characteristics. The government plans to continue efforts with local governments and medical institutions to prevent the spread of CRE infections, including strengthened CRE management measures in the 2nd Comprehensive Measures for Prevention and Management of Healthcare-Related Infections (2023-2027). In addition, it will strengthen the cooperative management system between medical institutions and the government and continue to implement various management methods such as infection control education.