Analysis of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) surveillance results for 2017 in Korea: Comparison with the surveillance results of the previous 5 years (2012-2016)

Lee Eunju, Lee Seungjae, Bahk Hyunjung, Kim Sungnam, Lee Hyungmin
Division of Healthcare Associated Infection Control, Center for Infectious Disease Surveillance & Response, KCDC

As the frequency of use of antibiotics increases, antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming a global problem. One of the healthcare-associated infections, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) and carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) infection has rapidly increased since 2015 in Korea. In this report, the surveillance results were analyzed using CPE data reported from 2012 to 2017 through the national surveillance system. A total of 2,657 CPEs were reported in 2017, with an increase of 82.9% from the previous year. CPE infections are increasing rapidly every year due to an increase in the number of sentinels and an increase in the number of notifications and inspections mediated by the conversion of mandatory surveillance. Of the cases (2,657) of CPE reported in 2017, Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) was the most isolated causative factor with 1,516 cases (57.1%). The proportion of CPE reporting units conducting active monitoring with rectal swabs and the CPE rate among reported CRE cases are steadily increasing. The prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is increasing worldwide. CRE infection will increase as the use of medical services increases. We hope that this report will be used as a basis for preparing a plan to strengthen the management of CRE, especially CPE, to prevent the spread of antibiotic resistance and health care-associated infections in national medical institutions.

Keywords: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae, Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae, Surveillance, Healthcare-associated infections, Antibiotic resistance