Antibiotic Control Policies in South Korea, 2000-2013.
- Author:
Baek Nam KIM
1
;
Hong Bin KIM
;
Myoung Don OH
Author Information
- Publication Type:Review
- Keywords: Inappropriate prescribing; Bacterial drug resistance; Health policy; Drug utilization review; Health care quality assurances
- MeSH: Bacteria; Delivery of Health Care; Drug Prescriptions; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Drug Utilization Review; Health Policy; Humans; Inappropriate Prescribing; Korea*; Outpatients; Prescriptions; Primary Health Care; Quality Assurance, Health Care; Respiratory Tract Infections; Societies, Medical; Streptococcus pneumoniae; Utilization Review
- From:Infection and Chemotherapy 2016;48(3):151-159
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: Antibiotic stewardship is a key strategy for limiting antibiotic resistance. Over the last decade the South Korean government has implemented a series of healthcare policies directed to this end, consisting of legislative separation of drug prescribing and dispensing, antibiotic utilization reviews, healthcare quality assessment, and public reporting. As a result, the proportion of antibiotic prescriptions for acute upper respiratory tract infections in primary healthcare facilities decreased from 72.9% in 2002 to 42.7% in 2013. However, no significant decrease in antibiotic resistance occurred over the same period in clinically important bacteria such as Streptococcus pneumoniae. These government-driven policies played a pivotal role in improving antibiotic use for outpatients and surgical patients in South Korea. However, to achieve long-lasting successful outcomes, coordinated efforts and communications among the stakeholders, including physicians and medical societies, are needed.
