Nationwide Survey of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Korean Hospitals: Insights From the Early Stage of the 2024 National Pilot Implementation.
8 affiliations
- 1Department of Pediatrics, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 2Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea.
- 3Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
- 4Integrated & Respite Care Center for Children, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea.
- 5Department of Internal Medicine, Seoul National University Bundang Hospital, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seongnam, Korea.
- 6Department of Internal Medicine, Yongin Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Yongin, Korea.
- 7Department of Internal Medicine, Inje University Sanggye Paik Hospital, Inje University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. [email protected].
- 8Department of Internal Medicine, Hanyang University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. [email protected].
Abstract
Background
Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are essential for optimising antibiotic use and mitigating antimicrobial resistance. In Korea, antimicrobial consumption exceeds the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average, and ASP activities remain fragmented, particularly in smaller hospitals. In November 2024, the National Health Insurance Service introduced a pilot reimbursement scheme to support ASPs in hospitals with ≥ 300 beds. This study aimed to provide baseline data to evaluate its impact.Methods
A nationwide web-based survey was conducted between January and February 2025 among 297 hospitals with ≥ 300 beds. The questionnaire was designed to allow comparison with the 2020 national survey and to assess the ASP infrastructure, resources, and practices.Results
Of 153 responding hospitals, 71 participated in the pilot programme. Participating hospitals were typically large, university-affiliated, and metropolitan-based; non-participants were smaller, non-teaching, and regional. Participating hospitals employed more infectious disease specialists (2.96 vs. 0.63) and paediatric infectious disease specialists (0.66 vs. 0.12) and allocated more full-time equivalent staff to ASP activities. Participants had stronger institutional support, including financial (46.5% vs. 1.2%) and workforce (52.1% vs. 2.4%) support. Guidelines, interventions, monitoring, and information technology-based decision support systems were more common in participating hospitals, which were all registered with the Korea National Antimicrobial Use Analysis System. Non-participating hospitals frequently lacked guidelines (62%) and interventions (48%). Both groups reported workforce shortages and insufficient incentives as major barriers.Conclusion
The Korean ASP pilot programme strengthened the stewardship infrastructure in participating hospitals, even early on. However, substantial disparities with non-participating hospitals persist, underscoring the need for tailored support for resource-limited institutions.
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BibTeX
@article{lim2026nationwide,
title = {{Nationwide Survey of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Korean Hospitals: Insights From the Early Stage of the 2024 National Pilot Implementation.}},
author = {Sung Min Lim and Raeseok Lee and Se Yoon Park and Jinnam Kim and Ji Young Park and Choseok Yoon and Song Mi Moon and Yong Chan Kim and Hong Bin Kim and Myung Jin Lee and Bongyoung Kim},
journal = {Journal of Korean medical science},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e253},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42901494},
note = {CC BY-NC},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Nationwide Survey of Antimicrobial Stewardship in Korean Hospitals: Insights From the Early Stage of the 2024 National Pilot Implementation.
AU - Sung Min Lim
AU - Raeseok Lee
AU - Se Yoon Park
AU - Jinnam Kim
AU - Ji Young Park
AU - Choseok Yoon
AU - Song Mi Moon
AU - Yong Chan Kim
AU - Hong Bin Kim
AU - Myung Jin Lee
AU - Bongyoung Kim
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/19
JO - Journal of Korean medical science
DO - 10.3346/jkms.2026.41.e253
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42901494
AB - Background Antimicrobial stewardship programmes (ASPs) are essential for optimising antibiotic use and mitigating antimicrobial resistance. In Korea, antimicrobial consumption exceeds the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average, and ASP activities remain fragmented, particularly in smaller hospitals. In November 2024, the National Health Insurance Service introduced a pilot reimbursement scheme to support ASPs in hospitals with ≥ 300 beds. This study aimed to provide baseline data to evaluate its impact.Methods A nationwide web-based survey was conducted between January and February 2025 among 297 hospitals with ≥ 300 beds. The questionnaire was designed to allow comparison with the 2020 national survey and to assess the ASP infrastructure, resources, and practices.Results Of 153 responding hospitals, 71 participated in the pilot programme. Participating hospitals were typically large, university-affiliated, and metropolitan-based; non-participants were smaller, non-teaching, and regional. Participating hospitals employed more infectious disease specialists (2.96 vs. 0.63) and paediatric infectious disease specialists (0.66 vs. 0.12) and allocated more full-time equivalent staff to ASP activities. Participants had stronger institutional support, including financial (46.5% vs. 1.2%) and workforce (52.1% vs. 2.4%) support. Guidelines, interventions, monitoring, and information technology-based decision support systems were more common in participating hospitals, which were all registered with the Korea National Antimicrobial Use Analysis System. Non-participating hospitals frequently lacked guidelines (62%) and interventions (48%). Both groups reported workforce shortages and insufficient incentives as major barriers.Conclusion The Korean ASP pilot programme strengthened the stewardship infrastructure in participating hospitals, even early on. However, substantial disparities with non-participating hospitals persist, underscoring the need for tailored support for resource-limited institutions.
SN - 1598-6357
ER -