KDCA rolls out action plan to curb antibiotic overuse, lower resistance rates

Ten pills of the antibiotic Amoxicillin are seen at a pharmacy in this file photo from May 2018. [REUTERS/YONHAP]

 
The Korean government will expand oversight of antibiotic prescriptions at medical institutions under a new five-year action plan aimed at lowering the country’s antibiotic use and resistance rates, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) said Wednesday.
 
The KDCA announced its third National Action Plan on antimicrobial resistance for 2026 through 2030 on Wednesday.  
 

Related Article

• Korea ranks second in OECD for antibiotic consumption, raising health concerns

• KDCA warns of reinfection as influenza B spreads earlier than expected

• KDCA survey raises concerns about nation's health, with male obesity reaching record high

 
Korea’s antibiotic usage and resistance rates remain high relative to other advanced nations. Antibiotic consumption in Korea reached 31.8 defined daily doses per 1,000 inhabitants per day in 2023. The figure was 1.6 times higher than the OECD average of 19.5.
 
The resistance rate of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus reached 45.2 percent in 2023. The rate was 1.7 times the global average of 27.1 percent.
 
The newly announced measures aim to ensure the appropriate use of antibiotics. The plan calls for full activation of the Antibiotic Stewardship Program (ASP) in medical institutions.
 
Teams of infectious disease specialists and pharmacists monitor antibiotic prescriptions under the program. They intervene when prescriptions are considered unnecessary or excessive.
 

Lim Seung-kwan, commissioner of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), speaks during a press briefing at the KDCA headquarters in Cheongju, North Chungcheong, on Feb. 25. [YONHAP]

 
The ASP program is currently operated as a pilot project. It will be expanded to all general hospitals with 301 beds or more, covering 170 institutions, by next year.
 
The government plans to amend relevant laws to mandate ASP and convert it into a full-scale initiative. Leading hospitals will be designated by region to form networks and support smaller and mid-sized hospitals in implementing the program.
 
Guidelines for antibiotic use in common illnesses will be developed and distributed to institutions that lack infectious disease specialists. The measure is intended to support appropriate prescribing at primary care clinics.
 
Oversight will also be strengthened in nonhuman sectors including agriculture, livestock and fisheries. All antibiotics will be permitted only through prescriptions issued by veterinarians or aquatic animal disease management professionals under a revised system. The veterinary prescription management system will be upgraded to establish a basis for calculating antibiotic usage.
 

Customers are seen at a pharmacy in Jongno District, central Seoul, on July 12, 2023. [NEWS1]

 
Previously approved veterinary antibiotics will undergo reevaluation for safety and efficacy in line with the latest scientific standards, and usage criteria will be tightened.
 
The plan also includes measures to reduce the incidence of infectious diseases.
 
Local government-led infection control response systems will be activated to curb the spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales infections, which have increased in recent years.
 
Expanded vaccination efforts are included. Authorities aim to reduce antibiotic use by strengthening herd immunity through the national immunization program.
 
In the livestock sector, support for vaccine development will be expanded. Vaccination guidelines will be provided for production-limiting diseases such as porcine epidemic diarrhea to reduce farmers’ reliance on antibiotics.
 
The positive list system for residue limits, currently applied to cattle, pigs and chickens, will be gradually expanded to other livestock, including sheep and ducks, and to aquatic products.


This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
BY KIM NAM-YOUNG [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]