Uijeongbu-si Reports 3rd Year Increase in CRE Infection Cases... Urges Caution for Vulnerable Groups

Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Cases in Uijeongbu City Continue to Rise
1,153 Cases Reported Last Year

Uijeongbu City, Gyeonggi Province (Mayor Kim Dong-geun) announced on the 24th that the number of reported cases of Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections, a type of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, has been increasing every year and urged for strengthened infectious disease prevention and management.

A view of Uijeongbu City Hall. Provided by Uijeongbu City.

Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) refers to a group of Enterobacteriaceae bacteria that are resistant to carbapenem-class antibiotics.

The annual occurrence of CRE in Uijeongbu City has been rising, with 566 cases in 2022, 803 cases in 2023, and 1,153 cases in 2024. The increase in reported cases is attributed to improved awareness of reporting among medical institutions since CRE was designated as a notifiable infectious disease under comprehensive surveillance in 2017, as well as an increase in hospital admissions among the elderly population.

This infection spreads through direct or indirect contact with healthcare-associated infections or carriers of the pathogen, as well as through contaminated instruments, supplies, and environments.

Because the antibiotics available for treatment are limited, CRE can cause various severe infections such as bloodstream infections, urinary tract infections, and pneumonia, making thorough infection control within medical institutions crucial to prevent the spread of infection.

Director Jang Yeon-guk stated, “To prevent and contain CRE infections, active infection control measures such as monitoring by medical institutions, prompt reporting for strain identification, isolation, and testing of contacts are essential.” He added, “We will strengthen on-site response capabilities including surveillance and management of healthcare-associated infections in cooperation with medical institutions.”