South Korea Faces Record Surge in Superbug Infections, Nearing 45,000 Cases | AI News Digest
In South Korea, the number of infections caused by carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), a dangerous antibiotic-resistant 'superbug', has reached alarming heights, with nearly 45,000 cases documented as of December 1, 2025. This figure not only exceeds the total cases reported for all of 2024 but also reflects a 6.1% increase compared to the previous year. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) has observed a steady uptick in CRE infections since they were added to mandatory surveillance in 2017, with older adults particularly affected. Those aged 60 and over account for more than 86% of the reported cases, highlighting the challenges posed by South Korea's aging population in the face of growing antimicrobial resistance. In response to this escalating crisis, health officials are formulating a new National Antimicrobial Resistance Management Plan, which aims to reduce antibiotic usage and strengthen infection control strategies.
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