Study develops first framework to estimate country-level antibiotic need
Researchers have developed a new global framework to estimate the optimal use of antibiotics across different countries based on infection burdens and socioeconomic data. The study aims to help nations balance access to essential medicines with the need to curb antimicrobial resistance.
Why it matters
Establishing standardized benchmarks for antibiotic use is a critical step in addressing the global health crisis of drug-resistant infections.
A major international study of antibiotic use has developed the first global framework to estimate how many and which type of antibiotics each country needs to treat infections.
Publishing their findings in The Lancet Public Health on 22 July 2026, study authors said that the benchmarking framework “offers a data-driven method to estimate antibiotic need and to assist CTAs [countries, territories and areas] in evaluating their levels of antibiotic use in comparison with optimal patterns”.
The Independent Panel for Evidence for Action on AMR will evaluate the targets, policies and regulations that could guide CTAs towards improved antibiotic use and access, the study authors added.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in