Cost-effectiveness of antimicrobial resistance control policies

The impact of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) on health and health systems expenditure is substantial and set to increase dramatically if no action is taken to curb current trends. Existing AMR control policies have the potential to significantly influence the burden of AMR through first reducing the risk of transmission of infections or by reducing the inappropriate prescription and use of antimicrobials. This chapter reports the findings of a cost-effectiveness model developed to assess and compare the health and economic impact of a number of AMR control policies relative to a business-as-usual scenario in which there are no interventions. The OECD SPHeP-AMR model was used to assess performances of six selected policies – stewardship programmes, improved hand hygiene, enhanced environmental hygiene, rapid diagnostic tests, delayed prescriptions and mass media campaigns – if they were scaled up to national levels in 33 countries. The effects of each AMR control policy on health outcomes and health care expenditure for the 33 countries included in the microsimulation are presented, along with the possible impact of combining different policies. Finally, the strengths and weaknesses of the findings and sensitivity analysis of the main outcomes are discussed.