"Even Antibiotics Fail": Superbug Infections Hit Record High of 45,000 This Year

Bacteria resistant to antibiotics are spreading rapidly.

The number of domestic 'superbug' infections has already reached an all-time high.

As infections that are difficult to treat increase,

tension is rising among healthcare providers and public health authorities.

The Invisible Enemy: The Return of the 'Superbug'

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This year, nearly 45,000 people in Korea have been infected with antibiotic-resistant bacteria,

commonly known as 'superbugs'.

This is the highest number since records began in 2018.

Notably, patients aged 60 and older account for 86% of all cases,

with infections spreading rapidly among the elderly population.

Hospitals: Cracks in the Safest Place

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infections are mostly transmitted within healthcare facilities.

Contaminated equipment, contact between patients, and excessive prescription of antibiotics

are identified as the main causes.

Once infected, treatment is difficult,

and there is a growing number of cases where a simple urinary tract infection worsens into pneumonia or sepsis.

Ineffective Drugs, Evolving Bacteria

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CRE bacteria are resistant even to carbapenem antibiotics, known as the 'last resort'.

designated antibiotic resistance in 2019

as one of the 'top 10 global health threats'.

As treatment periods lengthen and medical costs rise,

the social and economic burden left by infectious diseases is also increasing.

It Was Humans Who Fueled the Crisis

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Korea ranks second among OECD countries in antibiotic usage.

The usage is 31.8 per 1,000 people, nearly twice the .

Continuous misuse and overuse have accelerated the spread of resistant bacteria.

The government is preparing the 'Third National Antibiotic Resistance Management Plan',

aimed at reducing antibiotic use and strengthening infection prevention.

Antibiotic resistance is no longer a problem of the future.

The response we take now will determine the survival of the next generation.

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