Patient Safety Analysis Quick Reference Guides

These quick reference guides were created to help you understand, modify, and interpret your data using the NHSN application’s various analysis output (report) options for the NHSN Patient Safety Component. These guides serve as companions to the “Introduction to NHSN Analysis” training slideset.

New! NHSN’s Guide to the SIR (updated July 2017) [PDF – 3M]
A comprehensive guide to NHSN’s SIR, including risk factors used in the SIR calculations under the 2015 baseline.
New! How to Modify a Report [PDF – 375K]

Analysis Quick Reference Guides

General Tips

Troubleshooting Guides

SIRs under the 2015 Baseline (Baseline Set 2)

New! SSI Exclusion Criteria for SIR January 2016 [Video – 7 min]
- YouTube Link – SSI Exclusion Criteria for SIR
- CDC Streaming Video – SSI Exclusion Criteria for SIR
Troubleshooting CLABSI and CAUTI SIR [PDF – 123K]
Troubleshooting MRSA and CDI LabID Event SIR [PDF – 218K]

SIRs under the Original Baseline (Baseline Set 1)

Frequently Requested Output/Reports

Targeted Assessment Prevention (TAP) Strategy Reports

Targeted Assessment for Prevention (TAP) Reports

Description: Each of these guides will describe and provide an example of how to create, modify, and interpret the data displayed in a facility level TAP Report (Updated June 2017):

Description: Each of these guides will describe and provide an example of how to create, modify, and interpret the data displayed in a group level TAP Report (Updated June 2017):

Antimicrobial Use and Resistance Module Reports

Output/Report Option Types

Each of these guides will describe and provide an example of how to create, modify, and interpret the data displayed in the output/report.

Tips for Customizing Your Output/Reports

Filter Output by Time Period [PDF – 143K]
Explains how to filter any output option by a specific time period and includes a description for each of the date variable formats.
Filter Output by Additional Criteria [PDF – 175K]
Explains how to filter any output by additional variables and criteria.
Save Custom Output Options for Future Use [PDF – 152K]
Explains how to save modifications as a custom output option.
Share Custom Output Options with Coworkers [PDF – 108K]
Explains how to publish custom output modifications to be used by other users in your facility.
Export Data from NHSN [PDF – 177K]
Explains how to export your surveillance data and calculated rates and SIRs from NHSN into another compatible format.
Run Multiple Output Options [PDF – 270K]
Explains how to run different output options at the same time, also referred to as an “Output Set”.
Custom Fields [PDF – 161K]
Explains how to run analyses to include facility-defined custom variables (custom fields).
Using the Statistics Calculator [PDF – 316K]
Explains and provides examples on how to run statistical analyses on one or more measures using NHSN’s statistics calculator.