Abstract: Multidrug-Resistant Organism (MRDO) is one of the major challenges in the prevention and control of hospital infections in China. Although some MDROs are gradually decreasing, Gram-negative bacilli resistant to key antimicrobial agents such as carbapenem are still rising. In particular, carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae is rapidly increasing in clinical settings. MDROs can cause various infections. Difficulties in treatment often lead to increased patient mortality, prolonged hospital stays, and increased medical costs, posing a major threat to medical safety and public health, and consuming large amounts of medical and social resources. Since the cause of MDROs generation and dissemination has not been removed, MDROs will continue to be a major medical and prevention challenge in the foreseeable future. In addition to the current common Gram-negative bacteria, multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and fungi such as Candida spp. have the potential to become major public health threats in the future. To tackle MDRO effectively, it is necessary to carry out early identification, joint prevention and control between medical institutions, promotion of non-contact environmental/objective disinfection measures, emphasis on hospital design and re-examination of antimicrobial management. Despite the difficulties, as long as the awareness is raised and the hospital infection prevention and control measures are implemented in parallel, the MDRO infection is generally controllable and preventable.

Key words: Multidrug-Resistant Organism; hospital infection control; antimicrobial stewardship; antimicrobial resistance