January 2026
Tracking Inpatient Antimicrobial Use: Key Updates to the NHSN Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR) Data
Inpatient Antibiotic Use
The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN)'s Antimicrobial Use (AU) Option, managed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), plays a vital role in monitoring antimicrobial use across healthcare facilities in the United States. The NHSN application collects data that help healthcare providers understand how antimicrobials are being used in hospitals. One key tool in this effort is the Standardized Antimicrobial Administration Ratio (SAAR), which helps antimicrobial stewards identify ways to improve prescribing practices.
The SAAR is a risk-adjusted metric that compares the observed use of antimicrobials in a facility to what is predicted in specific patient care locations, based on national averages. It allows hospitals to track their antimicrobial use, see how their use compares against national benchmarks, and assess the impact of their efforts to optimize prescribing. Though a SAAR is not a definitive measure of the appropriateness or judiciousness of antimicrobial use, it is a tool used to inform benchmarking.
Recently, updates have been made to the SAAR data available on the Antimicrobial Resistance and Patient Safety Portal (AR & PSP). Previously, SAARs for adult and pediatric locations were based on risk adjustment models that used data from 2017, while neonatal data were based on 2018 data. New risk models have been developed using national data from 2023. You can now explore the latest national and state-specific SAARs based on the 2023 models on the Inpatient Antibiotic Use profile page.
SAAR Data by State
This map displays 2024 median SAAR values for all SAAR agent categories and SAAR populations, by state and select territories.
To view State Profile data, hover and click on desired State.
For specific SAAR agent category names, please see footnotes below.
For additional SAAR distribution data, please see "View Data" tab.
For more information on insufficient data, please see footnotes below.
SAAR Data by State: All Antibacterial Agents for Adults
While the previous SAAR figures based on 2017 and 2018 baseline data will still be accessible on the AR & PSP portal, no new data will be added to that page. It is important to note that comparing SAARs generated from different baselines, i.e. 2017, 2018, and 2023 baselines, is not recommended. Each baseline is based on different populations, risk adjustments, and SAAR agent categories.
For more information on SAARs, please explore the updated resources available on the Inpatient Antibiotic Use profile page.