South Korea’s pilot program reviews 260,000 antibiotic prescriptions
Summary and headline written by AI from the source article. How we work
In South Korea, 78 medical institutions intervened in over 260,000 antibiotic prescriptions during the first year of a pilot program designed to promote appropriate antibiotic use.
The 질병관리청 (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency) organised a meeting to share the program’s results and discuss future improvements. The Antibiotic Stewardship Program (ASP) involves specialist teams reviewing the suitability of antibiotic choices, dosages, and durations, and either approving or restricting their use to reduce inappropriate prescribing.
During the first year of the program, running to December 2025, 695 doctors and pharmacists formed multidisciplinary ASP teams across the 78 participating institutions. These teams reviewed 321,661 prescriptions and achieved an 81.9% acceptance rate for their recommendations, meaning 263,373 prescriptions were adjusted. The 질병관리청 also recognised individuals and organisations contributing to antibiotic resistance prevention, and will hold briefings in Seoul, Gwangju, and Busan from October 28 to 30 to recruit participants for the program’s third year.
