Epidemiology of severe acute respiratory infections in South Korea: a nationwide surveillance study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Severe acute respiratory infections (SARIs) are a critical public health concern due to their substantial morbidity and mortality rates across age groups. The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological characteristics, pathogen distribution, and clinical outcomes of SARIs in South Korea by analyzing nationwide surveillance data.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, multicenter surveillance study from January 2017 to January 2023 across sentinel hospitals nationwide, coordinated by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA). Respiratory specimens were collected and tested for a panel of viral and bacterial pathogens. Clinical data and outcomes were analyzed according to pathogen detection status.

Results

A total of 47,857 hospi

SUBMITTER: Kang DH 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12664143 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature