Published: 18 Mar 2019 | Last Updated: 18 Mar 2019 10:07:08

Dr Barbara Haesler has been awarded a MRC grant to lead work on "Convergence in evaluation frameworks for integrated surveillance of AMR (CoEval-AMR)". 

The mitigation of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is informed by fit-for-purpose, integrated surveillance systems that allow identifying emerging resistance, understanding the AMR epidemiology, and planning and evaluating policies for AMR reduction. International organisations have called for collaboration across animal, human and environmental sectors and adoption of a “One Health” approach. Several integrated surveillance strategies exist, but their performance and economic value remain to be evaluated.Multiple research groups worldwide are currently working on the evaluation of integrated AMR surveillance looking at how approaches and methods can be refined to provide information that is relevant for making decision on what surveillance approaches to use and thereby support the management of antimicrobial use and resistance development. So far, the work of different research and implementation groups has resulted in multiple frameworks and disjointed recommendations for evaluation and measurement, which can be confusing for users.

To address this problem, the JPIAMR funded and RVC-led Network “Convergence in evaluation frameworks for integrated surveillance of AMR” brings people together with the aim of harmonising and refining existing frameworks and approaches for the evaluation of AMR surveillance. Research partners are from Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, Sweden, Thailand, Tanzania, United Kingdom, and Vietnam. By reviewing existing frameworks and approaches and assessing their usefulness and validity, the Network will produce an overview of existing protocols and develop supporting guidance to evaluate the performance and value of integrated surveillance systems for AMR. This topic is of growing importance globally, and our results will contribute to this new and dynamic field of research on One Health evaluation and metrics.