Convergence in evaluation frameworks for integrated surveillance of AMR (CoEval-AMR)

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Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is the ability of a microorganism (e.g. bacteria, parasites, viruses) to stop responding to an antimicrobial drug (e.g. antibiotics, antiparasitic or antiviral drugs) that previously treated them effectively. As a result, standard treatments become ineffective in people and animals with serious welfare and economic consequences. Resistant microorganisms and genes can be found in humans, animals and the environment. To understand better the evolution, emergence and behaviour of AMR and help informing decision-making for national, regional, and global solutions, it is important to have cost-effective surveillance systems. Surveillance in this context is the continuous, systematic collection, analysis and interpretation of health-related data for health decision-making.Because of the complexity of the problem, various international organisations have called for collaboration across human, animal, and environmental sectors and adoption of a "One Health" approach. Several integrated surveillance strategies exist globally but their effectiveness and economic efficiency remain to be evaluated. Therefore, the aim of the Network "Convergence in evaluation frameworks for integrated surveillance of AMR" is to develop guidance for a harmonised evaluation framework that will address the specific needs of integrated surveillance systems for AMR. The use of this evaluation framework will help to understand what works and does not work in AMR surveillance and thereby help to set up improved, cost-effective surveillance for AMR. To elaborate this evaluation framework, we will bring together international experts in the field who have long-standing experience in surveillance, AMR and/or evaluation. We will organise two main scientific workshops to review and discuss existing evaluation frameworks and approaches. In the process, we will identify gaps and areas for improvements and we will work towards an agreed evaluation framework. In a next step, protocols and written guidance will be developed and made publicly available through an existing online website used for surveillance evaluation (SurvTools: https://survtools.org). Results will allow understanding the value of cross-sectoral, integrated surveillance for AMR, and help policy makers make decisions on how to invest resources for surveillance.