Antibiotic prescriptions had surged with the pandemic

But the share of cephalosporins and quinolones prescriptions decline

Government releases 'Healthcare Quality Statistics'... Antibiotic prescriptions rise from 16.0 DDD in 2021 to 21.3 DDD in 2022

43% were cephalosporin or quinolone antibiotic prescriptions in 2022...a slight decrease year-on-year

The amount of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions in Korea had changed dramatically during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

In 2020 and 2021, early stages of the pandemic, antibiotic prescriptions dropped sharply but then surged in 2022.

 

In contrast, the proportion of cephalosporin and quinolone antibiotic prescriptions, which are more powerful than other antibiotics, increased in 2020 and 2021 and then decreased in 2022.

 

The Ministry of Health and Welfare released the "Healthcare Quality Statistics" that contained the above findings on the 24th.

 

The MOHW releases this data annually for comparative statistics among OECD countries.

 

One of the statistical items examines outpatient antibiotic prescriptions in primary care clinics.

 

According to the statistics, in 2022, outpatient prescriptions of local antibiotics, not systemic antibiotics amounted to 21.3DDD per 1000 inhabitants in primary healthcare centers in Korea.

 

Defined Daily Dosage (DDD) is a unit used to measure drug consumption and refers to the average maintenance dose that an adult weighing 70 kg should take per day.

 

Total outpatient antibiotics prescribed for systemic use (Source: Healthcare Quality Statistics 2022)

The number of antibiotic prescriptions in Korea has been steadily decreasing since 2016 when it reached 26.9 DDD.

 

Especially during the pandemic, the number dropped below 20.0 DDD in 2020-2021.

 

It is analyzed that as people refrained from outdoor activities due to social distancing measures, respiratory infections decreased, reducing antibiotic prescriptions.

 

In 2022, when the social distancing measures were eased, antibiotic prescriptions made a rebound.

 

From 16.0 DDDs in 2021 to 21.3 DDDs in 2022, the amount increased 33% in 1 year.

 

In contrast, prescriptions for cephalosporin and quinolone antibiotics, which are broader and more potent than other antibiotics, increased significantly early in the pandemic and then decreased near the endemic.

 

Among all outpatient antibiotic prescriptions, the percentage of cephalosporin and quinolone antibiotics increased from 39.5% in 2019 to 43.6% in 2020, then to 44.8% in 2021.

 

In 2022, their share decreased slightly to 43.1%.

 

Percentage of cephalosporin and quinolone antibiotics prescribed (Healthcare Quality Statistics 2022)

The prescription and use of antibiotics require management due to resistance issues and is considered one of the important areas to monitor through national antimicrobial resistance management policies.

 

The OECD Healthcare Quality Statistics also includes two indicators related to antibiotics: the total number of outpatient antibiotics prescribed for systemic use and the proportion of cephalosporin/quinolone antibiotics prescribed.

 

The MOHW explained, "The total volume of outpatient antibiotic prescriptions decreased by 34% in 10 years since 2011 due to the strengthening of antibiotic management policies and increased public awareness.

 

However, the proportion of cephalosporin/quinolone antibiotics prescribed for systemic use has continued to increase over the decade and remains high at 43% as of 2022."