PHWR Public Health Weekly Report

Vol.14 No.53, December 30, 2021 Article TypeEpidemiology and SurveillanceNoncommunicable Disease Statistics

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-12-30

  0 341 586

  Importation and Community Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant of Concern, the Republic of Korea, December 2021

  Hye Young Lee, Ji Joo Lee, Hanul Park, Mi Yu, Jong Mu Kim, Sang-Eun Lee, Young-Joon Park, Moonsu Kim, Seonggon Kim, Hanna Yoo, Mi Young Kim, Jin Su Song, Jihee Lee, Jeong Hee Yu, Eun-young Kim, Hyo Seon Jeong, Jae Hwa Chung

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(53): 3768-3776

  

  

  Abstract

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  On December 1, 2021, SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant of concern (VOC) was identified for the first time in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and a total of 123 cases with Omicron VOC were identified through quarantine and community epidemiological surveys. As of December 12, 2021, among them, a total number of cases (123), 90 cases were confirmed through RT-PCR and NGS analysis and 33 epidemiological related cases were divided. By infection route, 23 imported cases and 100 additional cases of transmission in local communities were identified.
  In term of ages, gender, and vaccination, 63.4% (78 cases) were between 20 and 59 years of age, 57.7% (71 cases) were female, which marked a slightly higher than male, and 54.5% (67 cases) were unvaccinated. Asymptomatic at diagnosis were 24.4% (30 cases), and the main symptoms of Omicron VOC were fever 32.5% (40 cases), sore throat 30.9% (38 cases), cough 29.3% (36 cases), headache 20.3% (25 cases). There were no cases exhibiting severe symptoms and no deaths up to now. The average incubation period was 4.2 days (2-8 days), and the serial interval was 2.8 to 3.4 days. As a result of the initial analysis of the epidemiological properties of the 123 cases of the omicron VOC, this report will share information with the public and related experts. This report recommended that the KDCA continuoue to monitor and respond to the omicron VOC.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-12-30

  0 415 154

  Influenza sentinel surveillance report in the Republic of Korea, 2020-2021

  Jeongok Cha, Park Sujin, Yeoran Yun, Mincheol Jeon, Lee Donghan, Kim Heui Man, Lee Nam-joo, Rhee Jee Eun, Kim Eun-Jin

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(53): 3777-3789

  

  

  Abstract

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  During the 2020-2021 influenza season (from Week 36 in 2020 to Week 35 in 2021), 199 clinical sites, 63 laboratory sites, and 219 inpatients sentinel sites were designated as sentinel institutions. The influenza-like illness patient rate (ILI) peaked at 3.3 per 1,000 outpatients at Week 46 of 2020 and then continued to decline and did not exceed the epidemic threshold, and no pandemic advisory was issued.
  The reporting performance rate of the sentinel institutions was 98.4%, an increase of 0.4%p compared to the previous year (2019). The number of inpatients totaled 211 (1.0 per institution), a 98% decrease from the last season's total of 12,660 (59.4 per institution). As a result of the significant decrease in the number of influenza outbreaks this season, it due to an increase in attention personal hygiene due to COVID-19 such as wearing a mask, washing hands, coughing etiquette, etc. In addition, contacting between people has decreased due to social distancing and reduced overseas travel.

• Epidemiology and Surveillance 2021-12-30

  0 314 68

  Molecular characteristic analysis and antimicrobial resistance of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) isolates in the Republic of Korea, 2017-2020

  Seongjae Joo, Minkyeong Kim, Eunkyung Shin, Junyoung Kim, Jaeil Yoo

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(53): 3790-3804

  

  

  Abstract

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  In the past decade, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) infections have rapidly increased and are becoming a threat to global health. In the Republic of Korea (ROK), 45,436 cases of CRE infection were reported from June 2017 to December 2020. Both the number of reported cases and the number of reporting medical institutions have risen. Accordingly, the antimicrobial resistance and molecular characteristics analysis of the prevalent CRE is needed as nationally. In this study, 32,696 strains of CRE were analyzed by regional distribution, antimicrobial resistance profiles, and genetic relationship. The major 1,081 strains of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae (CR-K. pneumoniae) were selected for analyzing their molecular epidemiology association.
  As a result of the analysis, 99.2% of the domestic CRE were found to be resistant to one or more carbapenem antimicrobial, such as ertapenem. CR-K pneumoniae 64.3% (21,020 strain) of the total were overwhelmingly isolated compared to other species. By regional distribution, it was confirmed that CRE isolates mainly accounted for 50.3% (16,444 strain) of the total in the Seoul Metropolitan area (Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon). Among the identified CREs, 24,188 strains (73.9%) were identified as carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). In Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC)-type carbapenemase, KPC-2 type (17,855 strains, 73.8%) was identified as the major carbapenemase of the domestic epidemic CRE. CR-K. pneumoniae isolates were classified into 139 pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) groups based on the high genetic relationship of more than 90%, and 15 representative PFGE group types accounting for 45.1% were identified. The results of this study suggested that the same or similar clones continue to be prevalent in domestic isolated CRE.
  This study showed meaningful results in that it analyzed the epidemic trend of CRE in the ROK focusing on the antimicrobial resistance profiles and molecular characteristics, and was expected to be useful laboratory data to effectively respond to the infectious disease caused by antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in the future.

• Noncommunicable Disease Statistics 2021-12-30

  0 152 96

  Trends of Survival and Neurological Recovery in Sudden Cardiac Arrest Patients, 2008-2020

  Public Health Weekly Report 2021; 14(53): 3805-3806

  

  

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