Development of the antimicrobial resistance burden score through a modified eDelphi

A recent study developed a new Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Burden Score, designed to better measure and compare the impact of AMR within healthcare systems. Using a structured expert-consensus process, researchers created a composite index that integrates multiple dimensions of AMR—including resistance levels, treatment effectiveness, surveillance, stewardship adoption, operational processes, and health-system capacity—into a single score. The framework aims to overcome the limitations of traditional AMR surveillance, which often relies on fragmented indicators, by combining clinical, microbiological, and management data into a more comprehensive assessment tool. The authors propose that this score could help hospitals and health systems monitor trends, evaluate stewardship interventions, benchmark performance, and guide strategic responses to AMR, although further validation and adaptation across different settings will be required.