Status of Resistance
The most urgent antibiotic resistance problems identified by APUA-South Korea members are:

  • Lack of surveillance of antibiotic use and resistance
  • Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI)

Chapter Overview
Since the founding of the APUA- Korea Chapter in 2000, the chapter has been one of APUA’s most active and accomplished. Achievements to date include:

  • Recognition of APUA-South Korea as an NGO.
  • Establishment a fruitful collaboration with the Asian Medical Center which coordinates the National Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance Network.
  • Establishment of the Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genetics by Chapter Coordinator Dr. Yang Soo Kim at the University of Ulsan.
  • Collaboration with the Center for Antimicrobial Resistance and Microbial Genetics to complete a research project on the difference in the rates of antimicrobial resistance isolated from healthy people before and after the introduction of the separation of the roles of pharmacists from physicians in July of 2000.
  • Completion of a brief paper detailing the problem of antibiotic resistance in Korea for the APUA newsletter.

On November 7, 2002, APUA-Korea held the “Inaugural Symposium for APUA-Korea.” More than 500 professionals took part in the symposium. Dr. Stuart Levy was among the many expert presenters.

Chapter Objectives and Priorities

  • Coordinating activities of diverse bodies such as government (department of health, NIH of Korea, and FDA of Korea), academic societies, hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, and human and veterinary medical institutions

Chapter Activities

  • Research
  • Development of treatment guidelines
  • Assistance and training in interpretation of surveillance data
  • Public media campaigns
  • Provider training program on antibiotic use
  • Patient education
  • Briefings for Ministers of Health or Finance

Chapter Leadership

Chapter Leader: Yang Soo Kim, M.D., Asian Medical Center, University of Ulsan
Jun Hee Woo, M.D., Asian Medical Center, University of Ulsan
Sang-Ho Choi, M.D., Asian Medical Center, University of Ulsan