mdr

MDR is an acronym that can refer to several terms across medicine, regulation, computing, and cybersecurity. The meaning depends on the context, and the term is not restricted to a single field.

In microbiology, MDR denotes organisms that are resistant to multiple antimicrobial drugs. Definitions vary, but MDR is commonly defined as resistance to at least one agent in three or more antimicrobial classes. Mechanisms include efflux pumps that remove drugs, enzymatic inactivation, and target modification. MDR complicates treatment, increases hospital stays, and drives the need for antimicrobial stewardship, infection control, and the development of new therapies.

In the European Union, MDR refers to the Medical Device Regulation (Regulation (EU) 2017/745), which replaced the Medical Devices Directive. The MDR strengthens safety and performance requirements, mandates clinical evaluation and post-market surveillance, and requires conformity assessment by notified bodies. It has influenced market access for medical devices across member states and intersects with the In Vitro Diagnostic Regulation (IVDR), which governs diagnostic devices.

In computing, MDR stands for Memory Data Register, a register that holds data being transferred to or from memory. It operates alongside the Memory Address Register (MAR) and the control unit as part of the processor’s data path.

In cybersecurity, MDR denotes Managed Detection and Response, a service model that combines continuous monitoring, threat hunting, alert triage, and incident response. Providers integrate with an organization’s security stack to detect and respond to threats, often leveraging a mix of human analysts and automation.

Some contexts use MDR as shorthand for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), a form of tuberculosis resistant to at least isoniazid and rifampicin.