The health and economic burden of AMR

This course introduces the concepts and methods for estimating the impact of bacterial antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on populations. AMR has a significant global impact on public health and economies, for example by increasing illness (morbidity) and death (mortality), placing a burden on healthcare systems and economic productivity.

This course provides an overview of the burden of disease that bacterial AMR is responsible for, including both morbidity and mortality, and introduces the economics of bacterial AMR. It defines ‘burden’ as an epidemiological term and introduces key epidemiological concepts essential to understanding bacterial AMR and its burden, covers methodologies for measuring AMR burden and considers their strengths and limitations. Additionally, it outlines the economic consequences of AMR on healthcare systems, communities and economies, and explains how cost-effectiveness analysis can guide policy decisions to mitigate bacterial AMR. This course will not cover drug-resistant tuberculosis, HIV or malaria. The term ‘AMR’ will refer to bacterial AMR throughout unless otherwise specified.

This course requires basic knowledge of definitions and sources of data related to AMR and how it can be measured. If you are unfamiliar with these concepts or would like a reminder, you might want to revisit Sections 1–4 of the Fundamentals of data for AMR [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)] course before starting this course. If you haven’t done so already, it might also be helpful for you to review the course Introducing antimicrobial resistance to make sure you understand what surveillance is and the AMR surveillance flow and process.

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• define key epidemiological terminologies and concepts related to the burden of bacterial AMR
• explain the rationale and value of assessing the burden of disease for AMR
• demonstrate an understanding of the metrics and indicators that are commonly used to describe the burden of AMR
• outline how data collected and analysed using available methodologies for estimating the burden of AMR can be interpreted, highlighting the strengths and limitations of each methodology
• reflect on burden of disease data related to AMR in your settings (including community, hospital, country, and WHO region) and at a global level
• demonstrate an awareness of the direct and indirect economic consequences of AMR and antimicrobial use on healthcare systems, individuals, communities and economies, considering both short- and long-term perspectives
• outline the benefits and costs of One Health strategies to mitigate the effects of AMR
• explain how economic analysis can inform AMR-related policy decisions by identifying interventions that provide the greatest benefit relative to their costs.

In order to achieve your digital badge and Statement of Participation for this course, you must:

• click on every page of the course
• pass the end-of-course quiz
• complete the course satisfaction survey.

The quiz allows up to three attempts at each question. A passing grade is 50% or more.

When you have successfully achieved the completion criteria listed above you will receive an email notification that your badge and Statement of Participation have been awarded. (Please note that it can take up to 24 hours for these to be issued.)