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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.
Content Type
Content Type
Title
Title
Description
Description
Recorded Webinar
Recorded Webinar
A presentation that explains the impact of the 2023 SAAR baseline and provides guidance for the analysis and interpretation of SAARs under different baselines. Designed for users of NHSN AU SAAR data looking to understand how SAARs may change when the new baseline is implemented.
A presentation that explains the impact of the 2023 SAAR baseline and provides guidance for the analysis and interpretation of SAARs under different baselines. Designed for users of NHSN AU SAAR data looking to understand how SAARs may change when the new baseline is implemented.
Recorded Webinar
Recorded Webinar
Introduction to the NHSN 2023 Baseline SAAR Models and Analysis Reports
Introduction to the NHSN 2023 Baseline SAAR Models and Analysis Reports
A presentation that provides an overview of how to identify, locate, and use key components for the 2023 baseline SAAR, including the importance of risk adjustment factors and where these data are reported within NHSN, the calculation of the number of predicted antimicrobial days, 2023 baseline SAAR analysis reports, and related resources.
A presentation that provides an overview of how to identify, locate, and use key components for the 2023 baseline SAAR, including the importance of risk adjustment factors and where these data are reported within NHSN, the calculation of the number of predicted antimicrobial days, 2023 baseline SAAR analysis reports, and related resources.
Recorded Webinar
Recorded Webinar
A presentation that reviews the 2023 SAAR rebaseline using three different scenarios to help viewers interpret their SAAR values, describe why their SAARs may have changed, and apply best practices when presenting their SAAR values.
A presentation that reviews the 2023 SAAR rebaseline using three different scenarios to help viewers interpret their SAAR values, describe why their SAARs may have changed, and apply best practices when presenting their SAAR values.
Analysis Resources
Analysis Resources
Keys to Success with the SAAR is a guidance resource developed to help healthcare facilities understand, interpret, and effectively use the Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR).
Keys to Success with the SAAR is a guidance resource developed to help healthcare facilities understand, interpret, and effectively use the Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR).
Reference Material
Reference Material
This is a concise, user-friendly, one-page fact sheet summarizing the 2023 AU SAAR Rebaseline and its importance. Useful for all users of NHSN data as a quick reference.
This is a concise, user-friendly, one-page fact sheet summarizing the 2023 AU SAAR Rebaseline and its importance. Useful for all users of NHSN data as a quick reference.
Reference Material
Reference Material
This is a concise, two-page fact sheet that outlines key considerations for analyzing SAARs under the 2017/2018 and 2023 national baselines.
This is a concise, two-page fact sheet that outlines key considerations for analyzing SAARs under the 2017/2018 and 2023 national baselines.
NHSN’s Guide to the SAAR (2023 Baseline) [PDF – 700 KB] – This comprehensive document is intended to serve both as guidance for those who are new to the Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR), as well as a useful reference for more experienced users. The NHSN SAAR Guide includes an overview of the SAAR metric and the methods used to develop the SAAR, details of each risk adjustment model under the 2023 national baseline, example calculations, and recommendations for using the SAAR for action.
2023 AU SAAR Rebaseline: Talking Points for Organizations & Health Departments [PDF – 209 KB] – This resource provides organizations and health departments with key talking points for communicating about the 2023 Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR) national baseline. It explains why the baseline was updated, how to interpret updated SAAR values, changes to risk adjustment and reporting, and important considerations for using SAAR data to support antimicrobial stewardship efforts.
2023 AU SAAR Rebaseline: Talking Points for Antibiotic Stewards when Speaking with Hospital Leadership and Committees [PDF – 345 KB] – This resource provides antibiotic stewards with key talking points for communicating with hospital leadership and committees about the 2023 SAAR national baseline. It explains why the baseline was updated, how to interpret and present updated SAAR values, changes in risk adjustment and reporting, and important considerations for using SAAR data to support antibiotic stewardship efforts.
Antimicrobial Use SAAR Table [PDF – 827 KB] – This quick reference guide provides an overview of the SAAR Report for location groups within the NHSN application. The guide walks through an example showing how to modify and interpret the SAAR output.
AU Option Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR) Plot [PDF – 393 KB] – This quick reference guide provides step-by-step instructions for creating and customizing SAAR dot plots in NHSN. It explains how to select time periods, SAAR categories, and location groups and how to interpret SAAR values, confidence intervals, and reference lines to visualize antimicrobial use over time
Antimicrobial Use SAAR Table – By Location [PDF – 436 KB] – This quick reference guide provides an overview of the SAAR Report for individual locations within the NHSN application. The guide walks through an example showing how to modify and interpret the SAAR output.
