The CDC antimicrobial use measure is not ready for public reporting or value-based programs

Abstract

The standardized antimicrobial administration ratio (SAAR) is the metric for reporting antimicrobial use that hospitals will be mandated to use in 2024. We highlight limitations of the SAAR and caution against efforts to use it for public reporting and financial reimbursement. Before the SAAR is ready for public reporting, it needs to include patient-level risk adjustment and antimicrobial resistance data as well as improved hospital location options and revised antimicrobial agent groupings to appropriately reflect and incentivize important stewardship work.