title: Present situation of antimicrobial resistance in Korea.
abstract: Resistance of bacteria to antimicrobial agents is a worldwide concern. In Korea, resistant bacteria are more prevalent than in other industrialized countries. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, erythromycin-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes, penicillin non-susceptible pneumococci, beta-lactamase-producing gonococci, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, class C beta-lactamase-producing E. coli, fluoroquinolone-resistant E. coli, and aminoglycoside-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are examples of resistant bacteria prevalent in Korea, and their presence suggests a high level of antimicrobial selective pressure and the nosocomial spread of resistant bacteria. Recently observed rapid increases in the incidence of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium and carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa present new threats in Korea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, Research Institute of Bacterial Resistance, Yonsei University College of Medicine, C.P.O. Box 8044, Seoul, Korea. whonetkor@yumc.yonsei.ac.kr
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea / Q000453:epidemiology