Infections and outbreaks of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococcus (VRE), have been increasing. Detection methods for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria have been changed from traditional culture methods to chromogenic media culture and molecular methods. Strain- typing methods using various molecular technologies are essential tools for epidemiologic surveillance. Furthermore, outbreak detection, using syndromic surveillance as well as passive and active surveillance, has been applied. However, it is difficult to establish effective and robust guidelines and systems for using these various methods to control antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Therefore, clinical microbiologists and policy makers must possess expertise in the control of antimicrobial resistant bacteria, discuss the issue sufficiently, and, finally, create a system to accomplish this control. (Ann Clin Microbiol 2013;16:53-60)