The Question

How can the severity of antibiotic resistance be quantified so that trends can be tracked and understood by professionals?

What we found

A drug resistance index (DRI) and several subindices were developed to represent trends in antibiotic usage and resistance.

Why it matters

The DRI will help people discuss how drug resistance is changing over time and in different parts of the world, simplifying the way experts track the effect of this health issue on populations.