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NHSN 2023 AU SAAR Rebaseline
“Rebaseline” is a term that CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) staff use to describe the process of updating the national antimicrobial use (AU) baseline and risk adjustment models. Each Rebaseline process results in the creation of updated calculations and risk adjustment models to generate the predicted antimicrobial use, which is the denominator used to calculate the standardized antimicrobial administration ratio (SAAR).
Important message: New educational materials are being posted to this webpage on a rolling basis as they become available. Please check back regularly for ongoing updates.
Refer to the resources below for additional information, FAQs, and training materials. The NHSN team remains committed to working with facilities to advance antimicrobial stewardship. Measuring progress under an updated national standard is important in evaluating prescribing practices and identifying opportunities for stewardship. The newly baselined data will continue to drive patient safety and the effort to optimize antimicrobial use.
NHSN’s Guide to the SAAR (2023 Baseline) [PDF – 700 KB] – An interim resource for understanding the Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR), including eligible location types, antimicrobial agents included in each SAAR category, and risk adjustment model details under the 2023 national baseline. A comprehensive SAAR Guide—including methods used in model development and recommendations for use—will be updated and released in the coming months.
Content coming soon!
