Epidemiological characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks in the Republic of Korea between 2017 and 2022.

BACKGROUND: We aimed to describe the epidemiological characteristics of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) outbreaks in healthcare settings in the Republic of Korea between 2017 and 2022. METHODS: Under the national notifiable disease surveillance system, we obtained annual descriptive statistics regarding the isolated species, carbapenemase genotype, healthcare facility type, outbreak location and duration, and number of patients affected and recommended interventions. We used epidemiological investigation reports on CPE outbreaks reported to Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from June 2017 to September 2022. RESULTS: Among the 168 reports analyzed, Klebsiella pneumoniae (85.1%) was the most frequently reported species, while K. pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC, 82.7%) was the most common carbapenemase genotype. Both categories increased from 2017 to 2022 (p<0.01). General hospitals had the highest proportion (54.8%), while tertiary general hospitals demonstrated a decreasing trend (p<0.01). The largest proportion of outbreaks occurred exclusively in intensive care units (ICUs, 44.0%), and the frequency of concurrent outbreaks in ICUs and general wards increased over time (p<0.01). The median outbreak duration rose from 43.5 days before the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic (2017-2019) to 79.5 days during the pandemic (2020-2022) (p=0.01), and the median number of patients associated with each outbreak increased from 5.0 to 6.0 (p=0.03). Frequently recommended interventions included employee education (38.1%), and 3 or more measures were proposed for 45.2% of outbreaks. CONCLUSION: In the Republic of Korea, CPE outbreaks have been consistently dominated by K. pneumoniae and KPC. The size of these outbreaks increased during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings highlight the need for continuing efforts to control CPE outbreaks using a multimodal approach, while considering their epidemiology.

Epidemiology and Risk Factors of Carbapenemase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae Acquisition and Colonization at a Korean Hospital over 1 Year.

Background: Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE) are known to be primarily responsible for the increasing spread of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and have therefore been targeted for preventing transmission and appropriate treatment. This study aimed to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics and risk factors of CPE infection in terms of acquisition and colonization. Methods: We examined patients' hospital data, including active screening on patients' admission and in intensive care units (ICUs). We identified risk factors for CPE acquisition by comparing the clinical and epidemiological data of CPE-positive patients between colonization and acquisition groups. Results: A total of 77 CPE patients were included (51 colonized and 26 acquired). The most frequent Enterobacteriaceae species was Klebsiella pneumoniae. Among CPE-colonized patients, 80.4% had a hospitalization history within 3 months. CPE acquisition was significantly associated with treatment in an ICU [adjusted odds ratio (aOR): 46.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.08-430.09] and holding a gastrointestinal tube (aOR: 12.70, 95% CI: 2.61-61.84). Conclusions: CPE acquisition was significantly associated with ICU stay, open wounds, holding catheters or tubes, and antibiotic treatment. Active CPE screening should be implemented on admission and periodically for high-risk patients.

Genetic Characterization of Clostridium botulinum Isolated from the First Case of Infant Botulism in Korea.

Botulism is a neuroparalytic disease caused by a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. This study aimed to genetically characterize C. botulinum strain isolated from the first case of infant botulism in Korea reported on June 17, 2019. We isolated C. botulinum strain CB-27 from a stool sample of the patient and analyzed the toxin types and toxin gene cluster compositions of the strain using a mouse bioassay, real-time PCR, and genome sequencing. Toxin gene cluster analysis showed that strain CB-27 possesses a C. botulinum neurotoxin type A harboring an unexpressed B gene. Although the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of toxin genes as well as the toxin gene cluster arrangements in strain CB-27 were identical to those of the known strain CDC_69094, the total nucleotide sequences of the toxin gene clusters of CB-27 differed from those of CDC_69094 by 0.47%, indicating genetic diversity of toxin gene clusters of CB-27 among other previously reported C. botulinum strains. To our knowledge, this is the first description of a C. botulinum strain with two separate toxin gene clusters in Korea.

Contact Tracing during Coronavirus Disease Outbreak, South Korea, 2020.

We analyzed reports for 59,073 contacts of 5,706 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) index patients reported in South Korea during January 20-March 27, 2020. Of 10,592 household contacts, 11.8% had COVID-19. Of 48,481 nonhousehold contacts, 1.9% had COVID-19. Use of personal protective measures and social distancing reduces the likelihood of transmission.