Current Status of Antimicrobial-resistant Bacteria in Japan
(1) Humans
1) Gram-negative bacteria
Source: JANIS
As for the recent status of gram-negative bacteria, despite recent global increase of carbapenem (imipenem
(IPM) and meropenem (MEPM))-resistant Enterobacteriaceae such as Escherichia coli and Klebsiella
pneumoniae, the proportion of carbapenem-resistant Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae in Japan
remained low at less than 1%, as in Tables 1 and 2. However, the rate of resistance against third-generation
cephalosporins such as cefotaxime (CTX) and fluoroquinolones such as levofloxacin (LVFX) among Escherichia
coli continues to increase. The rise in the rate of resistance to third-generation cephalosporins would appear to
reflect the increase in bacteria with ESBL genes. As such, there appears to be a particular need for measures
targeted at the rise of these resistant bacteria.
The proportion of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacter cloacae (Table 3) and Klebsiella (Enterobacter)
aerogenes (Table 4) remained between around 1% and 2%; and the proportion of carbapenem-resistant
Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Table 5) and Acinetobacter spp. (Table 6) remained at a level equivalent to or even
lower than in other countries. In particular, the proportion of carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter spp. remained
low between around 1% and 3%.
ⅰ. Escherichia coli
Table 1. Trends in the proportion (%) of antimicrobial-resistant Escherichia coli
BP
(-2013)

BP
(2014-)

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

ABPC

32

32

47.6
(116,097)

49.1
(133,330)

49.4
(150,867)

49.2
(170,597)

50.5
(257,065)

51.2
(288,052)

51.7
(307,143)

52.2
(325,553)

52.6
(336,351)

PIPC

128

128

40.1
(119,843)

41.6
(136,978)

TAZ/
PIPC

4/128

4/128

-

-

CEZ*

32

8

24.4
(122,803)

26.2
(141,560)

42.5
(155,626)
2.2
(51,286)
26.9
(161,397)

CMZ

64

64

-

-

-

CTX*

64

4

CAZ*

32

16

14.8
(99,543)
5.2
(123,606)

16.6
(113,354)
5.2
(142,440)

CFPM

32

32

-

-

AZT*

32

16

IPM*

16

4

8.5
(97,906)
0.1
(113,820)

9.4
(111,930)
0.1
(128,289)

MEPM*

16

4

17.8
(124,473)
5.5
(161,163)
10.9
(81,456)
10.2
(126,777)
0.1
(146,007)
0.1
(95,180)
0.2
(161,406)
35.5
(155,998)

42.5
(175,763)
1.7
(89,442)
33.3
(183,542)
1.0
(163,342)
23.3
(140,186)
9.5
(183,970)
12.8
(129,606)
16.1
(143,046)
0.1
(163,181)
0.2
(144,913)
0.2
(184,788)
36.1
(178,497)

44.1
(270,452)
1.7
(179,722)
35.8
(268,898)
0.9
(260,844)
24.5
(209,404)
10.8
(275,671)
15.0
(236,705)
17.6
(216,494)
0.1
(251,050)
0.2
(269,893)
0.1
(281,641)
38.0
(274,687)

44.9
(305,604)
1.8
(218,008)
36.8
(303,608)
1.0
(300,089)
26.0
(230,911)
11.6
(310,281)
15.8
(273,587)
18.4
(239,952)
0.1
(284,316)
0.2
(317,987)
0.1
(317,913)
39.3
(310,705)

45.2
(327,773)
1.7
(241,519)
37.3
(324,109)
0.9
(325,296)
26.8
(241,843)
12.0
(330,029)
16.1
(296,143)
18.7
(258,193)
0.1
(304,633)
0.1
(340,687)
0.1
(339,871)
40.1
(336,310)

46.0
(342,066)
1.7
(263,131)
38.7
(347,491)
0.9
(348,832)
27.5
(251,068)
12.4
(352,819)
16.7
(321,745)
19.3
(273,064)
0.1
(321,043)
0.1
(365,600)
0.1
(362,591)
40.9
(360,329)

46.4
(343,183)
3.2
(285,685)
39.0
(361,167)
0.9
(365,259)
28.3
(257,856)
14.0
(367,538)
18.1
(337,526)
21.0
(283,965)
0.1
(328,665)
0.1
(379,637)
0.1
(374,518)
41.4
(374,719)

AMK

64

64

LVFX

8

8

-

-

0.2
(123,464)
31.4
(117,292)

0.2
(141,114)
34.3
(136,253)

The unit of BP is μg/mL.
Figures in parentheses indicate the number of bacterial strains that were tested for antimicrobial susceptibility. Data for ST were not calculated.
-: Not under surveillance
* CLSI (2007) (M100-S17) Criteria was applied to determine the BP up to 2013. CLSI (2012) (M100-S22) Criteria was applied to determine BP after 2014.

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