Surging Deaths from 'Superbugs': A Public Health Threat More Dangerous than COVID-19

The number of deaths caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, commonly referred to as 'superbugs,' is sharply increasing among hospitalized patients.

According to the recent report released by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency on the 26th, the number of deaths due to Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE) infection has surged from 37 in 2017 to 838 last year. The number of infected individuals also skyrocketed approximately 7.4 times from 5,717 in 2017 to 42,347 last year.

CRE arises when normally present gut bacteria acquire resistance to powerful carbapenem antibiotics.

This resistant bacteria infiltrates vital human areas such as the urinary tract, bloodstream, and lungs, causing serious infections, particularly leading to fatal outcomes for patients with weakened immune systems or those who are chronically hospitalized.

Patients using medical devices such as ventilators, central venous catheters, and urinary catheters are classified as the major risk group for infection.

Antibiotic Resistance, Medical Environment, and Infection Spread: Major Causes

Professor Jeong Hee-jin from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Korea University Guro Hospital explained, "The more antibiotics are used, the higher the chance that bacteria will mutate into resistant strains," adding, "Patients who have longer hospital stays or use hospitals frequently are at greater risk of exposure to CRE."

The primary infection pathways for superbugs include direct contact between patients, contact with healthcare workers' hands, and contaminated environments such as hospital beds or shared restrooms.

Professor Kim Nam-jung from the Department of Infectious Diseases at Seoul National University Hospital stated, "South Korea has a high number of multi-bed wards, making the medical environment more vulnerable to infections," and emphasized that "patients confirmed with CRE infection must be isolated in single rooms."

An even more serious issue is that effective drugs for the treatment of CRE infections are extremely limited.

Professor Kim pointed out that "the development of new drugs for the treatment of CRE has fallen low on the priority list of pharmaceutical companies," noting that "while some effective drugs have been developed, many have not been introduced in the country." He also highlighted that no vaccines currently exist for prevention.

The Risk of Spread to Nursing Homes: A Future Public Health Threat

CRE infections have now been confirmed not only in large hospitals but also in nursing homes.

Experts warn that a significant number of CRE infections are found not only in tertiary general hospitals but also in nursing homes where antibiotic use is high.

Professor Kim remarked, "By the year 2050, it is predicted that annual deaths worldwide due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria could reach 10 million," stating, "This could present an infectious disease crisis that is even more lethal than COVID-19, requiring thorough preparations from now on."

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