The use of antibiotics in Korea is 1.6 X that of the OECD

Inappropriate prescription 28%

The KDCA calls for compliance with precautionary rules to overcome tolerance

The use of antibiotics in Korea was 1.6 times the average of OECD member countries in 2018.

 

Of these, inadequate prescriptions such as antibiotics for colds account for 28%, so it is important to prevent resistance.

 

The KDCA (Director Jeong Eun-kyeong) emphasized the adherence and practice of antibiotic resistance prevention rules to overcome antibiotic resistance ('super bacteria') in celebration of World Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Week (the third week of November every year).

 

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns that antibiotic resistance will be an immediate public health crisis for humanity, and emphasizes that efforts in a variety of fields, including human and livestock, food and environment, are essential to overcome antibiotic resistance.

 

As of 2018, the domestic human antibiotic use (DDD/1000 persons/day) was 29.8, 1.6 times higher than the average of 25 OECD countries (18.6).

 

The Korean government participated in international efforts to prevent antibiotic resistance and It is promoting the National Antibiotic Resistance Management Measures ('16~'20), covering the fields of the health care, agriculture and stockbreeding field, food, and the environment.

 

As part of the 'National Antibiotic Resistance Management Measures', this week's Antibiotic Resistance Awareness Week is meaningful in driving the national countermeasures by joining the public to improve awareness and complying with the rules of practice, the Korea disease agency explained.

 

To prevent antibiotic resistance, it is important to reduce unnecessary use of antibiotics and improve awareness of the correct use of antibiotics.

 

In particular, in Korea, 27.7% of antibiotics are inappropriately prescribed, and antibiotics are prescribed for cold patients who do not need antibiotics (acute upper respiratory infections) (2019: 38.3%, 2018: 38.42%, 2017: 39.68%, 2016: 42.9%).

 

According to the results of an antibiotic resistance awareness survey conducted by the KCDC in 2019, 'Antibiotics are helpful in treating colds (40.2%)', 'You can stop taking antibiotics at will (39.4%)', ' When receiving treatment for a cold, the response that “there was a request for antibiotics prescription” (13.8%) is still high, so improvement of awareness of antibiotics should be preceded.

 

Commissioner Jeong Eun-kyeong emphasized, "It is important that not only medical personnel but also the public participate in the proper use of antibiotics and prevention of resistance to antibiotic resistance, and to observe and practice antibiotic resistance prevention rules." In addition, she said, "We will do our best to protect the national health through national efforts to prevent antibiotic resistance, such as raising public awareness and practicing, and continuously promoting national antibiotic resistance management measures." Meanwhile, the KCDA plans to produce promotional materials to help comply with and practice the rules for preventing antibiotic resistance, and publish them online through the KCDA's social channels and website (homepage).