Background: Judicious prescribing of antibiotics is necessary in addressing the crisis of emerging antibiotic resistance and reducing adverse events. Nearly half of antibiotic prescriptions in the outpatient setting are inappropriate, most for viral upper respiratory infections (URIs). Data outlining the misuse of antibiotics in the outpatient setting provide compelling evidence of the need for more rational use of antimicrobial agents beyond hospital settings. Objectives: We evaluated the effect of a behaviorally enhanced quality improvement (QI) intervention to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for viral URI in the ambulatory care clinics of a large quaternary care healthcare system serving an urban-rural population. Methods: The outpatient antibiotic stewardship program was implemented in January 2018 at 5 pilot sites. Interventions included identification of a site champion, educational sessions, sharing of clinic and individual provider data, and patient and provider educational materials. In addition, preclinic huddles and resident education sessions for internal medicine resident physicians were conducted with a display of public commitment to prescribe antibiotics appropriately. Site champions collaborated with onsite staff to ensure interventions were consistent with local workflows, policies, and standards. The primary outcome was defined as the provider-level antibiotic prescribing rate for acute URI, defined as patient visits with antibiotic-nonresponsive diagnoses without concomitant diagnostic codes to support antibiotic prescribing (see the public MITIGATE tool kit for a complete list). Results: In total, 116,122 antibiotic prescriptions were dispensed from April 2017 through December 2018 compared to the period from April 2017 to December 2017 during which 9,129 fewer prescriptions were ordered. Inappropriate antibiotic prescribing for viral URI for ambulatory clinic encounters (n ≥ 45,000 visits per month) declined from 14.3% to 7.6%. Academic hospital-based sites showed little seasonality trends and no statistically significant decrease in prescription rates (P = .5176). On the other hand, community-based sites showed strong seasonal fluctuations and a statistically significant decrease in prescription rates after intervention (P = .000189). Conclusions: A multifaceted behaviorally enhanced QI intervention to reduce inappropriate prescribing for URI in ambulatory care encounters at a large integrated health system was successful in reducing both inappropriate prescriptions for presumed viral URI as well as total antibiotic use. Findings suggest that implementing leadership roles, education sessions, and low resource behavioral nudging (peer comparison and public commitment) together can decrease excessive use of antibiotics by physicians. A Hawthorne effect may be an important component of these interventions. Future studies are needed in order to determine the optimal combination of behavioral interventions that are cost-effective in outpatient settings.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Larissa May reports receiving speaking honoraria from Cepheid, research grants from Roche, and consultancy fees from BioRad and Nabriva. She serves on the advisory board for Qvella.

Background: Contact isolation (ie, patient isolation with contact precautions) has been frequently used for preventing healthcare-associated infections caused by epidemiologically important pathogens (eg, vancomycin-resistant enterococcus [VRE]) via direct or indirect contact with patients. Based on ineffective components of routine contact isolations (eg, fewer healthcare provider visits), some studies have reported an association between the likelihood of adverse events and contact isolation. Objective: Given no strong evidence for this association due to most studies’ invalid study designs and systematic misclassification, we compared adverse events between a VRE isolation cohort and a matched comparison cohort, using a propensity score matching cohort study design. Methods: This study was conducted at a 1,337-bed, tertiary-care, university-affiliated, Korean hospital equipped with a full electronic medical record (EMR) system for all patient records. With institutional review board approval, all relevant EMR records were extracted for the study period 2015–2017. All contact isolation information of VRE patients were confirmed through EMR manual review by 1 trained research nurse. For propensity score matching, risk factors for adverse events (ie, decubitus ulcer, fall, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation [CPR]) were selected based on literature reviews: length of stay, age, gender, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, albumin, Charlson comorbidity index, Braden scale score, and Hendrich II fall risk. For each VRE case, the 1:1 matched case was selected through the nearest neighbor matching with calculated propensity scores. The retrospective observation period was from the cohort entry date (ie, contact isolation start date) to the cohort exit date (ie, discharge or discontinue of contact isolation). A time-to-event analysis with a Cox proportional hazard model was conducted using SAS version 9.4 software. Results: Among the 98,527 inpatients (323 VRE positive; 98,204 VRE negative), the VRE cohort (N = 141 of 216, 65% of total VRE patients admitted to general wards without adverse event history before contact isolation) and the matched comparison (no isolation) cohort (N = 141, 0.1%) showed no differences in characteristic comparisons (Table 1). The Cox proportional hazard model was not applicable for CPR because no CPR case was available in the matched comparison cohort. The hazard ratios for adverse events showed no statistically significant difference for both cohorts: decubitus ulcer (hazard ratio [HR], 1.049; 95% CI, 0.328–3.352; fall (HR, 0.418; 95% CI, 0.051–3.349) (Table 2). Conclusions: Based on the full EMR records for 3 years, our propensity-score–matched cohort study reported no association between the likelihoods of adverse events and contact isolation.

Funding: This work was supported by the Collaborative Research Program of Medical Science and Nursing Science from Seoul National University College of Medicine (Grant no. 800-20180001 & 810-20180001).

Disclosures: None.

Background: The University Health Network (UHN) is a multisite, academic health sciences center in Toronto, Canada, with 1,300 inpatient beds and ∼126,000 emergency department visits annually. Clinical services include a transplant program, cancer center, dialysis units, and rehabilitation sites. Currently, ∼0.83 km2 (>9 million ft2) of UHN real estate, ∼200 construction, renovation and maintenance projects are underway. The UHN Construction Infection Control Program (CICP) was created in 2012 and has expanded to include 3.5 FTEs to meet the needs of infection prevention oversight during these activities. We describe the performance indicators for the UHN CICP between May 2016 and December 2018 that have informed productivity and resource needs. Methods: Since 2016, construction infection preventionists (CIPs) have prospectively collected data on the frequency of activities reflecting CIP productivity and core job functions: number of meetings (attended and missed), site inspections, responses to breaches in control measures, education hours delivered, urgent requests, and after-hours work. Annual activity rates (frequency of activity divided by CIP months) were analyzed for trends, accounting for additions in CICP personnel over time. Results: Human resources and activities performed in the CICP from 2016 to 2018 are outlined in Table 1. As CICP human resources increased, the number of initiatives supported by the CICP team rose. Activity rates for attended meetings, inspections and hours of education provided increased with higher CIP resources, suggesting an improvement in individual productivity of each CIP (Fig. 1). Concurrently, the rate of missed meetings declined and after-hour requests and breach responses remained stable. Conclusions: An appropriately staffed CICP for the volume and risk level of organization-wide construction, renovation, and maintenance activities is crucial to infection prevention. We developed performance indicators based upon key functions of CIPs to evaluate the productivity of our team and ensure we had adequate human resources to maintain patient safety through our evolving needs.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Susy Hota reports contract research for Finch Therapeutics.

Background: Pre-emptive management of the water supply can reduce hospital-onset legionellosis associated with building water systems. In 2014, an outbreak of Legionella pneumonia occurred in a 1,150-bed academic medical center (with ∼0.557 km2 or ∼6 million ft2 of space) among hematology-oncology patients. A comprehensive water safety and management program was implemented after the outbreak was controlled. We describe our experience implementing this prevention program. Methods: After the Legionella outbreak was controlled, an air and water safety committee (AWSC) was established and cochaired by the healthcare epidemiologist and the chief facilities officer. The AWSC established protocols for proactive environmental testing and the development of the an infection control risk assessment (ICRA) dedicated to water safety known as the water system construction and renovation risk assessment (WSCRRA).The water system management plan (WSMP) was developed (prior to the publication of ASHRAE 188) to direct the risk assessments and mitigation of any risks throughout the campus. Results: The WSMP identifies critical control measures, points, and limits that need to be maintained to control and monitor Legionella growth in the water systems. A control point is any step in a process at which biological, chemical, or physical factors can be controlled. The UAB Medicine WSMP includes 7 control points that are monitored on a daily basis. Examples of these control steps include monitoring of the hot water temperatures at the water heaters and distal outlets, managing the levels of mono-chloramines and chlorines in the water system, and managing water system components. To validate the efficacy of the WSMP, >610 water samples are collected from 19 hospital buildings over a year to be tested for Legionella. The results of water testing have shown significant decrease in distal site positivity due to managing and controlling these control points. This WSMP also evaluated the efficacy of 2 different methods for disinfecting water systems on campus as a corrective measure to Legionella growth. These methods are hyperchlorination and temporary copper silver ionization; based on the culture results of the water samples collected post disinfection, WSMP data show that the copper silver ionization method was more effective than hyperchlorination in controlling Legionella growth and decreasing the distal site positivity. Conclusions: The WSMP has provided ongoing management of building water systems and proactive actions around construction and renovation projects that involve water systems to prevent healthcare-acquired legionellosis. We strongly recommend other healthcare facilities to implement a similar program to avoid outbreaks.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Rachael Anne Lee reports speaker honoraria from Prime Education, LLC.

Objective: We investigated whether whole-genome sequencing (WGS) data altered interpretations of clonal transmission as determined by conventional epidemiology and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) at a tertiary-care hospital (hospital Z, HZ). Methods: We included all carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE)–colonized or –infected patients identified via population-based surveillance from 2007 through 2018, who were admitted to HZ during and/or in the year prior to or following CPE detection. HZ reported clonal transmission clusters using epidemiology and PFGE for CPE identified at HZ or reported to HZ by other hospitals as potentially acquired at HZ. We assessed single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) phylogenies and case epidemiology. Results: Overall, 85 CPE-colonized or -infected patients were included: 50 were detected at HZ and 35 were detected at another local hospital but were admitted to HZ in the previous or following year. HZ reported 6 transmission clusters (Table 1). SNP analyses confirmed clusters B, C, E, and F. In cluster A, SNP analyses cast doubt on 2 of 9 cases (possibly representing plasmid transmission) but also identified 2 additional cases with isolates highly related (0–3 SNP differences) to other isolates. One case may be the index case: a travel-related case who stayed on the same unit as case 1, 4 months before case 1 detection. The second case stayed in a room previously occupied by 5 cluster A cases. In cluster D, SNP analyses found 1 additional case whose isolate was highly related (ie, 17–19 SNP differences) to other isolates. This case was identified a year before cluster D at another hospital that shares patients with HZ; however, the case’s admission to HZ was after all cluster D cases were detected and no direct epidemiologic link was identified. Conclusions: WGS data can identify cases belonging to transmission clusters that conventional epidemiologic methods missed.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Allison McGeer reports funds to her institution from Pfizer and Merck for projects for which she is the principal investigator. She also reports consulting fees from Sanofi-Pasteur, Sunovion, GSK, Pfizer, and Cidara

Background: Outbreaks of infections in healthcare negatively impact patient outcomes and experience. Transparency is critical to engendering trust and optimizing health. Consistent guidance is not available regarding when to report a possible outbreak of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) to public health and when to notify a limited population or to publicly disclose the occurrence of HAI. Recent analyses of state public health policies revealed that most states address reporting of outbreaks using terms such as clusters, unusual occurrences, or incidences over baseline. Specific wording about healthcare outbreaks or guidance for notifying patients or public is often absent. Thus, HAI outbreak notification and disclosure guidance and practices vary significantly around the country. A best-practice guidance document will provide clarity for when such reporting should occur. Methods: The Council for Outbreak Response: HAI and Antimicrobial-Resistant Pathogens (CORHA) has undertaken the task of developing this guidance by forming a multidiscipline policy work group with representation from its partner organizations. This work group has been tasked with creating a general framework that will guide notification and disclosure in the context of a possible HAI outbreak. The draft guidance document has been developed over several months of telephone and in-person conferences among work group members. Results: The standardized actions stemming from the guiding principles and recommended practices for conducting step 1 (immediate notification, initial and critical communications that occur when an outbreak is first suspected), were arranged in a table format with rows representing stakeholders and constituents to be notified and columns demonstrating the actions to be taken (Fig. 1). As an investigation progresses, notification should be revisited, especially if an investigation’s scope expands. The principles and practices for step 2 (expanded notification) have also been drafted in a table format. Next, the draft guidance addresses step 3 (public disclosure), outlining indications, practical guidance, and considerations in an outline and/or summary format. Real-world examples demonstrating application of the framework are being developed as supplementary resources to the framework. Current work group activities include engaging bioethicists, media reporters and patient advocates to review and comment on the guidance to ensure that it is clear, consistent and practical. Discussion: The draft guidance provides a framework for standardized actions for HAI outbreak notification and disclosure in a stepwise fashion, modeling public health practices and grounded in bioethical principles. The final product will provide valuable, practical advice for effectively sharing information with affected or potentially affected individuals and their caregivers in a timely manner.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Dawn Terashita reports that her spouse has received honoraria rom the speaker’s bureaus of Novo Nordisk and Abbott.

Background: Using alternatives to indwelling urinary catheters plays a vital role in reducing catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTIs). We assessed the impact of introducing female external catheters on urinary catheter utilization and CAUTIs. Methods: In a 500-bed academic medical center, female external catheters were implemented on October 1, 2017, with use encouraged for eligible females with urinary incontinence but not meeting other standard indications for urinary catheters. Nurses were educated and trained on female external catheter application and maintenance, and infection prevention staff performed surveillance case reviews with nursing and medical staff. We determined the number of catheter days for both devices based on nursing documentation of device insertion or application, maintenance, and removal. We used the CAUTI and DUR (device utilization ratio) definitions from the CDC NHSN. Our primary outcomes were changes in DUR for both devices 21 months before and 24 months after the intervention in both intensive care units (ICUs) and non-ICU wards. We used a generalized least-squares model to account for temporal autocorrelation and compare the trends before and after the intervention. Our secondary outcome was a reduction in CAUTIs, comparing females to males. Results: In total, there were 346,213 patient days in 35 months. The mean rate of patient days per month increased from 7,436.4 to 7,601.9 after the implementation of female external catheters, with higher catheter days for both urinary catheters (18,040 vs 19,625) and female external catheters (22 vs 12,675). After the intervention, the DUR for female external catheters increased (0 vs 0.07; P < .001) and for urinary catheters the DUR decreased (0.12 vs 0.10; P < .001) (Fig. 1). A reduction in urinary catheter DUR was observed in ICUs (0.29 vs 0.27; P < .001) but not wards (0.08 vs 0.08; P = NS) (Fig. 2). Of the 39 CAUTIs, there was no significant overall change in the rate per 1,000 catheter days (1.22 vs 0.87; P = .27). In females (n = 20 CAUTI), there was a 61% reduction in the CAUTI rate per 1,000 catheter days (0.78 vs 0.31; P = .02), but no significant change in the rate in males (0.44 vs 0.56; P = .64). The CAUTI rate per 1,000 catheter days among females decreased in the ICUs (1.14 vs 0.31; P = .04) but not in wards (0.6 vs 0.33; P = .96). Conclusions: In a setting with a baseline low UC DUR, successful implementation of female external catheters further modestly reduced UC DUR and was associated with a 61% decrease in CAUTI among females in the ICU but not in wards. Further interventions to better identify appropriate patients for female external catheters may improve patient safety and prevent patient harm.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: The antibiotic use optimization program (PROA) in Catalonia (Spain) is part of the surveillance program for nosocomial infections in hospitals in Catalonia (VINCat). Despite the existence of guidelines for the treatment of urinary tract infections in hospitals, adherence to them is not guaranteed. Objective: Our objective was to evaluate the adequacy of empirical antimicrobial therapy to local guidelines in bacteremia caused by Escherichia coli of urinary source within the PROA-VINCat program during a 3-year period. The impact of a voluntary survey asking for evaluating local results and implementing correction measures was also analyzed. Methods: Multicentric prospective observational study including all episodes of E. coli bacteremia of urinary source between May 2017 and September 2019, in adult hospitalized patients in 45 Catalan hospitals. Adequacy of the empirical therapy to local guidelines was one of the prospectively recorded items. A survey evaluating local results of 2017–2018 and asking for possible correcting measures was sent to the participating centers at the end of 2018. Percentages of adequacy of empirical antimicrobial therapy in 2017, 2018, and 2019 were compared by means of χ2 test. Results: Overall, 3,804 episodes of bacteremia were recorded: 845 in 2017, 1,861 in 2018 and 1,098 until September 30, 2019. Globally, adequacy of empirical therapy to guidelines increased from 73.7% in 2017 to 78.2% in 2019 (P = .06). Interestingly, in the 24 hospitals that responded to the voluntary survey, the adequacy of empirical therapy increased significantly from 72.9% in 2017 to 79.9% in 2019 (P = .009). In hospitals that did not respond, adequacy remained the same over the years (76.7% in 2017, 75.1% in 2019; P = .90). Correction measures applied were: meeting with the antimicrobial stewardship team to evaluate the results (100%), review of local resistance rates (62%), review of local guidelines (58.3%), improving guidelines dissemination (75%), sessions for improving guidelines adherence (58%), and analysis of adherence to guidelines after education (65%). Conclusions: In the empirical treatment of E. coli bacteremia of urinary source, adequacy to local antimicrobial therapy guidelines improved from 2017 to 2019, but only in hospitals answering a voluntary survey regarding correcting measures for improving adequacy. Adherence to antimicrobial stewardship proposals improves indicators at local and regional level.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Juan Pablo Horcajada reports consulting fees from MSD, Pfizer, and Menarini and speaker honoraria from MSD, Pfizer, and Zambon.

Background: Hospital-acquired Clostridioides difficile infection (HA-CDI) is a major infection control challenge. Using whole-genome sequencing, <40% of HA-CDI cases have been estimated to have been acquired from other inpatient cases. Huge regional variations have been described depending on the prevalence of epidemic ribotypes. We hypothesized that, according to the geographical area, variations in HA-CDI rates between hospitals could be attributable either to differences in infection control policies or to antimicrobial consumption. Objectives: To assess the association of HA-MRSA rates (a surrogate marker of infection control policies) and antimicrobial consumption with HA-CDI incidence from 2011 to 2018 in hospitals reporting at the VINCat-program (Infection Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship Catalan Program). Methods: Data on 45 hospitals in Catalonia (with 70.5% of all adult acute-care hospital beds) reporting antimicrobial consumption, HA-MRSA, and HA-CDI new cases to the VINCat-program since 2011 to 2018 were analyzed. To report antimicrobial consumption, the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical Classification (ATC) defined daily dose (DDD) index 2018 was used. Participating hospitals were classified into 3 groups according to size: group 1 (>500 beds), 9 hospitals; group 2 (500–200 beds), 15 hospitals; and group 3 (<200 beds), 21 hospitals. The number of hospitalization days recorded at the participating hospitals increased from 2,828,101 in 2011 to 3,201,680 in 2018. To analyze the association between HA-MRSA rate, antimicrobial consumption and the rate of CDI-HA, a Poisson regression model was used. HA-CDI annually new cases have been defined as a dependent variable, the stays as an offset of the model and the HA-MRSA rates and antimicrobial consumption (measured in DDD) as independent factors. The exponents of model coefficients are equal to incidence rate ratios (IRR). Results: The regression model showed an association of with antimicrobial consumption with HA-CDI (IRR,1.05; 95% CI, 1.03–1.07; P < .001) and a lack of association with HA-MRSA (IRR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.46–1.48; P = .52). Conclusions: The HA-CDI incidence rate grew annually by 5% for an increase of 1 DDD in annual antibiotic consumption. No association HA-MRSA rates was detected, suggesting that antimicrobial stewardship programs are urgently needed to improve the control of HA-CDI in Catalonia, a geographical area with a low prevalence of epidemic ribotypes.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Juan Pablo Horcajada reports consulting fees from MSD, Pfizer, and Menarini and speaker honoraria from MSD, Pfizer, and Zambon.

Background: Distinguishing active Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) from asymptomatic colonization remains a challenging task in the era of PCR testing. Inappropriate testing leads to overtesting and overdiagnosis, inadvertent treatment, and isolation in addition to laboratory identified (LabID) events, leading to increased incidence to hospital-onset CDI (HO-CDI). The institution has a nurse-driven C. difficile test ordering protocol, and we noted a significant increase in the HO-CDI incidence in 2017 due to inappropriate testing, with rates as high as 0.94 per 1,000 patient days. Methods: In September 2017, a multidisciplinary team reviewed and initiated algorithm-based testing with mandatory audit and review by infection preventionists (IPs) under the guidance of an ID physician of all ordered tests. They reviewed the adequacy and legitimacy of order for multiple parameters, including minimum 3 loose stools in 24 hours, use of laxatives in last 24 hours, consistency of the sample, presence of at least 1 clinical parameters (ie, fever, abdominal pain, leukocytosis, sepsis, or septic shock), recent or concomitant antibiotic use, recent PCR testing in the last 14 days, and chart review for medical and/or surgical history. The IPs served as the gatekeepers to testing and rejected the samples that were deemed inappropriate. Ambiguous cases were discussed with the ID specialist. On the microscope lab side, all specimens sent were batched to be run twice a day at 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m., and testing was performed only on the samples cleared by infection preventionists. Results: The number of PCR tests completed in the comparison quarter of 2016 was 220, which decreased to 157 tests in 2017 with a reduction of 28%. After a full year of implementation of the diagnostic stewardship protocol, the number of completed PCR tests decreased to 626 from 940 PCR tests in 2016, with an overall 34% decrease in testing. In the year following the implementation of diagnostic stewardship, HO-CDI decreased from 60 events in 2017 to 43 events in 2018, with a reduction of 28%. Subsequently, HO-CDI further decreased in 2019 from 43 to 28, with a reduction of 35%. Since the implementation of the project in 2017, HO-CDIs have decreased by 54% overall. The reduction in 314 C. difficile PCR tests in the first year led to a savings of $8,300 in laboratory testing supplies. The reduction of HO CDI by 17 led to cost avoidance of $293,420. Conclusions: Our experience shows that the IP-run diagnostic stewardship program was highly successful in streamlining testing, with cost savings on several fronts.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Disclosures:

Commercial Company : If I am presenting research funded by a commercial company, the information presented will be based on generally accepted scientific principals and methods, and will not promote the commercial interest of the funding company.

Disagree

Raghavendra Tirupathi

Background:Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are frequently used to deliver intravenous (IV) antibiotic therapy after discharge from the hospital. Infectious disease (ID) physicians are often consulted prior to PICC placement, but whether their approval influences PICC appropriateness and complications is not known. Methods: Using data from the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium (HMS) on PICCs placed in critically ill and hospitalized medical patients between January 1, 2015, and July 26, 2019, we examined the association between ID physician approval of PICC insertion for IV antibiotics and device appropriateness and outcomes. Appropriateness was defined according to the Michigan Appropriateness Guide for Intravenous Catheters (MAGIC) as a composite measure of (1) avoiding PICC use for durations ≤5 days; (2) using single-lumen instead of multilumen catheters; and (3) avoiding PICC use in patients with chronic kidney disease (eGFR>45 mL/min). The associations between ID approval of PICC use and odds of PICC-related complications (eg, deep vein thrombosis, central-line–associated bloodstream infection, and catheter occlusion) were also assessed. Multivariable models adjusting for patient severity of illness and hospital-level clustering were fit to both outcomes. Results were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) with corresponding 95% CIs. Results: Data from 36,594 patients who underwent PICC placement across 42 Michigan hospitals were included in the analysis. In total, 21,653 (55%) PICCs were placed for the indication of IV antibiotics; 14,935 (69%) of these had a documented ID consultation prior to placement, whereas 6,718 (31%) did not. Of the 14,935 PICCs with an ID consultation, 10,238 (69%) had ID approval documented prior to device placement (Fig. 1). Compared to no approval, PICCs approved by ID prior to insertion were more likely to be appropriate (OR, 3.51; 95% CI, 3.28–3.77; P < .001). Specifically, approval was associated with higher single-lumen use (OR, 5.13; 95% CI, 4.72–5.58; P < .001), less placement of PICCs with dwell times ≤ 5 days (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.25–0.32; P < .001), and less frequent use in patients with chronic kidney disease (OR, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.73–0.87; P < .001). ID approval of PICCs prior to insertion was associated with a significantly lower odds of PICC-related complications (OR, 0.57; 95% CI, 0.51–0.64) (Table 1). Conclusions: ID approval of PICC use for IV antibiotic therapy in hospitalized patients was associated with greater appropriateness and fewer complications. Policies aimed at ensuring ID review prior to PICC use may help improve patient and device safety.

Funding: None

Disclosures:Valerie M. Vaughn reports contract research for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the NIH, the SHEA, and the APIC. She also reports fees from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Speaker’s Bureau, the CDC, the Pew Research Trust, Sepsis Alliance, and The Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania.

Background: Between 2007 and 2015, inpatient fluoroquinolone use declined in US Veterans’ Affairs (VA) hospitals. Whether fluoroquinolone use at discharge has also declined, in particular since antibiotic stewardship programs became mandated at VA hospitals in 2014, is unknown. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study of hospitalizations with infection between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2017, at 125 VA hospitals, we assessed inpatient and discharge fluoroquinolone (ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, and moxifloxacin) use as (1) proportion of hospitalizations with a fluoroquinolone prescribed and (2) fluoroquinolone days per 1,000 hospitalizations. After adjusting for illness severity, comorbidities, and age, we used multilevel logit and negative binomial models to assess for hospital-level variation and longitudinal prescribing trends. Results: Of 560,219 hospitalizations meeting inclusion criteria as hospitalizations with infection (Fig. 1), 209,602 of 560,219 (37.4%) had a fluoroquinolone prescribed either during hospitalization (182,337 of 560,219, 32.5%) or at discharge (110,003 of 560,219, 19.6%) (Fig. 1). Hospitals varied appreciably in inpatient, discharge, and total fluoroquinolone use, with 71% of hospitals in the highest prescribing quartile located in the southern United States. Nearly all measures of fluoroquinolone use decreased between 2014 and 2017, with the largest decreases found in inpatient fluoroquinolone and ciprofloxacin use (Fig. 2). In contrast, there was minimal decline in fluoroquinolone use at discharge (Fig. 2), which accounted for 1,433 of 2,339 (61.3%) of hospitalization-related fluoroquinolone days by 2017. Between 2014 and 2017, fluoroquinolone use decreased in VA hospitals, largely driven by a decrease in inpatient fluoroquinolone (especially ciprofloxacin) use. Fluoroquinolone prescribing at discharge, and levofloxacin prescribing overall, remain prime targets for stewardship.

Funding: This work was funded by a locally initiated project grant from the Center for Clinical Management Research at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System.

Disclosures:Valerie M. Vaughn reports contract research for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the NIH, the SHEA, and the APIC. She also reports fees from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Speaker’s Bureau, the CDC, the Pew Research Trust, Sepsis Alliance, and The Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania.

Disclaimer The views expressed in this article are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the Department of Veterans Affairs or the US government.

Background: Clinicians often diagnose bacterial infections such as urinary tract infection (UTI) and pneumonia in patients who are asymptomatic or have nonbacterial causes of their symptoms. Misdiagnosis of infection leads to unnecessary antibiotic use and potentially delays correct diagnoses. Interventions to improve diagnosis often focus on infections separately. However, if misdiagnosis is linked, broader interventions to improve diagnosis may be more effective. Thus, we assessed whether misdiagnosis of UTI and community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) was correlated. Methods: From July 2017 to July 2019, abstractors at 46 Michigan hospitals collected data on a sample of adult, non–intensive care, hospitalized patients with bacteriuria (positive urine culture) or who were treated for presumed CAP (discharge diagnosis plus antibiotics). Patients with concomitant bacterial infections were excluded. Using a previously described method,1,2 patients were assessed for UTI or CAP based on symptoms, signs, and laboratory or radiology findings. Misdiagnosis of UTI was defined as patients with asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) treated with antibiotics number of patients with bacteriuria Misdiagnosis of CAP was defined as patients treated for presumed CAP who did not have CAP number of patients treated for presumed CAP. Hospital-level correlation was assessed using Pearson’s correlation coefficient between misdiagnosis of UTI and CAP. For patients with prescriber data (N = 3,293), we also assessed emergency department (ED)-level correlation. Results: Of 11,914 patients with bacteriuria, 31.9% (N = 3,796) had ASB. Of those, 2,973 of 3,796 (78.3%) received antibiotics. Of 14,085 patients treated for CAP, 1,602 (11.4%) did not have CAP. Incidence of misdiagnosis varied by hospital: those with high rates of misdiagnosis of UTI were more likely to have high rates of misdiagnosis of CAP (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, 0.58; P ≤ .001) (Fig. 1). Of 2,137 patients misdiagnosed with UTI, 1,159 (54.2%) had antibiotic treatment started in the ED; of those, 942 (81.3%) remained on antibiotics on day 3 of hospitalization. Of 1,156 patients misdiagnosed with CAP, 871 (75.3%) had antibiotic therapy started in the ED, and 789 of these 871 patients (90.6%) were still on antibiotics on day 3 of hospitalization. Hospitals with high rates of UTI misdiagnosis in the ED were more likely to have high rates of CAP misdiagnosis in the ED (Pearson’s correlation coefficient, 0.33; P ≤ .001). Conclusions: Misdiagnosis of 2 unrelated infections was moderately correlated by hospital and weakly correlated by hospital ED. Potential causes include differences in organizational culture (eg, low tolerance for diagnostic uncertainty, emergency department culture), organizational initiatives (eg, sepsis, stewardship), or coordination between emergency and hospital medicine. Additionally, antibiotics initiated in the ED were typically continued following admission, potentially reflecting diagnosis momentum.

Funding: This work was supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network.

Disclosures: Valerie M. Vaughn reports contract research for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Michigan, the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the NIH, the SHEA, and the APIC. She also reports fees from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation Speaker’s Bureau, the CDC, the Pew Research Trust, Sepsis Alliance, and The Hospital and Health System Association of Pennsylvania.

Background: Carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) represent a significant antibiotic resistance threat, in part because carbapenemase genes can spread on mobile genetic elements. Here, we describe the molecular epidemiology and outcomes of patients with CRE bacteriuria from the same city in a nonoutbreak setting. Methods: The Georgia Emerging Infections Program performs active, population-based CRE surveillance in Atlanta. We studied a cohort of patients with CRE (resistant to all tested third-generation cephalosporins and ≥1 carbapenem, excluding ertapenem) first identified in urine, and not in a prior or simultaneous sterile site, between 2012 and 2015. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed on a convenience sample. We obtained epidemiologic and outcome data through chart review and Georgia Vital Statistics records (90-day mortality). Using WGS, we created a core-genome alignment-based phylogenetic tree of the Klebsiella pneumoniae isolates and calculated the SNP difference between each sample. Using SAS version 9.4 software, we performed the Fisher exact test and univariable odds ratios (OR) with 95% CI to compare patient isolates with and without a carbapenemase gene. Results: Among 81 patients included, the median age was 68 (IQR, 57–74) years, and most were female (58%), black (60%), and resided in a long-term care facility 4 days prior to culture isolation (53%). Organisms isolated were K. pneumoniae (84%), Escherichia coli (7%), Enterobacter cloacae (7%), and Klebsiella oxytoca (1%). WGS identified at least 1 β-lactamase gene in 91% of the isolates; 85% contained a carbapenemase gene, the most frequent of which was blaKPC-3 (94%). Patients with CRE containing a carbapenemase gene were more likely to be black (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.0–13.8) and to have K. pneumoniae (OR, 8.9; 95% CI, 2.2–35.0). Using a core-genome alignment of 3,708 genes (~63% of the complete genome), we identified a median of 67 (IQR, 23–3,881) SNP differences between each K. pneumoniae isolate. A phylogenetic tree identified clustering around carbapenemase gene and multilocus sequence type (84% were ST 258) but not based on referring laboratory or county of residence (Fig. 1). Although 7% of patients developed an invasive CRE infection within 1 year and 21% died within 90 days, having a carbapenemase gene was not associated with these outcomes. Conclusions: Molecular sequencing of a convenience sample of CRE bacteriuria support K. pneumoniae ST258 harboring blaKPC-3 being distributed throughout the Atlanta area, across the healthcare continuum. Overall mortality was high in this population, but the presence of carbapenemase genes was not associated with worse outcomes.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Disclosures: None

Funding: None

Background:Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is the second most common cause of healthcare-acquired infections in neonates. S. aureus colonization is a known risk factor for invasive disease. Aside from healthcare workers (HCWs), recent data suggest that parents are important reservoirs of S. aureus in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). S. aureus typically colonizes the nares, but it can also colonize other anatomic locations such as the throat. Objective: Our objectives were to identify and compare S. aureus colonization among HCWs and parents and to identify and compare different sites of S. aureus colonization. Methods: Between April 2015 and July 2016, we performed 4 point-prevalence surveys and collected nares and throat swabs from HCWs (nurses, respiratory therapists, nurse practitioners, and physicians) at a quaternary-care NICU. During an overlapping period, we screened parents of neonates in the NICU for S. aureus colonization using nares, throat, groin, and perianal cultures as a part of an ongoing randomized control trial. Cultures from both studies were collected using standardized methods. ESwabs were used to collect samples, which were inoculated into broth for enrichment and subsequently cultured onto chromogenic agar to differentiate between MSSA and MRSA. Results: The prevalence of methicillin susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) colonization was 46% (105/226) in HCWs and 28% (239/842) in parents. The prevalence of methicillin resistant S. aureus (MRSA) colonization was 2.2% (5/226) in HCWs and 2.2% (19/842) in parents. Of those who were colonized with S. aureus, 35% (79/226) of HCWs and 46.5% (160/344) of parents had nares and throat colonization while 11.5% (26/226) of HCWs and 12.2% (42/344) of parents had only throat colonization but not nares colonization. Of those who were MRSA colonized, 1.3% (3/226) of HCWs and 1.8% (15/842) of parents had a positive nares and throat culture as compared to 0.9% (2/226) of HCWs and 0.2% (2/842) of parents had only positive throat cultures. Additionally, 68% (175/257) were colonized with S. aureus at any swabbed site including nares, throat, groin, or perinanal areas. However, only 30% (77/257) of parents had only nares colonization as compared to 58.8% (151/257) had throat and nares colonization, 38.1% (98/257) had nares and groin colonization, and 37.4% (96/257) had nares and perianal colonization. Conclusions: HCWs had greater prevalence of S. aureus colonization compared to parents. As expected, the nares was the most common site of MSSA and MRSA, but a large proportion of S. aureus colonized HCWs and parents had only throat colonization. Given the prevalence of S. aureus in non-nares sites of HCWs and parents in the NICU, further studies should examine the role of non-nares carriers in the transmission of S. aureus in this population.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Aaron Milstone reports consultancy with Becton Dickinson.

Background:Uganda is prone to viral hemorrhagic fever (VHF) outbreaks. Infection prevention and control capacity is critical to supporting patient care, to preventing nosocomial transmission to health workers, and to limiting spread within the community. Offsite didactic training may increase healthcare worker knowledge, but this approach may be inadequate for assuring confident execution of practical clinical tasks in patient care settings. We aimed to develop a competency-based, onsite mentorship model for sentinel case isolation and management of viral hemorrhagic fever syndromes in Uganda. Methods: The Naguru Regional Referral Hospital (China Uganda Friendship Hospital) Kampala was selected as a site for training after its designation by the Uganda Ministry of Health (MoH) as facility for isolation of healthcare workers with suspected or confirmed VHF. The need for mentorships was determined from information from training providers, MoH assessments, hospital management, and key hospital staff. A list of skills was developed by reviewing WHO case management guidelines and Uganda-approved VHF trainings. The skills, exercised using scenario-based drills, focused on safety practices, identification and isolation of suspect cases, and delivery of optimized clinical care to suspected cases of VHF, among others. Trained facilitators (n = 2–4) supervised drills attended by staff from Naguru and other Kampala-based health facilities. Drills were scheduled weekly and were ordered to progressively increase in complexity. Specific drills could be repeated at the subsequent mentorship visit if gaps were identified. Results: Over 3 months, 12 drills were completed (Table 1). Cadres trained included 10 medical doctors, 12 nurses, 3 clinical officers, 5 laboratory technicians, 6 hygienists, 2 security officers, and 3 administrative officers. On average, 8 hospital staff attended weekly drills. During 3 months of the intervention, 1 suspected case of VHF and 3 cases with laboratory confirmed cholera were managed by the hospital team, and staff demonstrated the capacity for safe handling of patients with infectious bodily fluids. Barriers encountered included practice fatigue from repeated drills, challenges with team cohesion since members were from different institutions, limited personal protective equipment for repeated trainings, and competing routine hospital activities that reduced numbers of staff available for training. Repeated drills included clinical management, cadaver management, and infectious spills. Conclusions: This onsite mentorship project supported healthcare workers to gain confidence in the management of suspected VHF infection and other highly infectious diseases. Continued mentorship, hospital administration support and increase in exercise complexity are needed to consolidate on these gains.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Mohammed Lamorde reports contract research for Janssen Pharmaceutica, ViiV, and Mylan.

Background: Targeted antibiotic stewardship interventions are needed to reduce unnecessary treatment of asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB). Organizational readiness for change is a precursor to successful change implementation. The Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment (ORCA) is a validated survey instrument that has been used to detect potential obstacles and tailor interventions. In an outpatient stewardship study, primary care practices with high readiness to change trended toward greater improvements in antibiotic prescribing. We used the ORCA to assess barriers to change before implementing a multicenter inpatient stewardship intervention for ASB. Methods: Surveys were self-administered by healthcare professionals in inpatient medicine and long-term care units at 4 geographically diverse Veterans’ Affairs facilities during January–December 2018. Participants included providers (physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners), nurses, pharmacists, infection preventionists, and quality managers. The survey included 7 subscales: evidence (perceived evidence strength) and 6 context subscales (favorability of the organizational context to support change). Responses were scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with 1 meaning very weak or strongly disagree. Scores were compared between professional types and sites. We also measured allocated employee effort for stewardship at each site. Results: Overall, 104 surveys were completed, with an overall response rate of 69.3%. For all sites combined, the evidence subscale had the highest score of the 7 subscales (mean, 4; SD, 0.9); the resources subscale was significantly lower than other subscales (mean, 2.8; SD, 0.9; P < .001). Scores for budget and staffing resources were lower than scores for training and facility resources (P < .001 for both comparisons). Pharmacists had lower scores than providers for the staff culture subscale (P = .04). Comparing subscales between sites, ORCA scores were significantly different for leadership behavior (communication and management), measurement (goal setting and accountability), and general resources (Fig. 1). The site with the lowest scores for resources (mean, 2.4) also had lower scores for leadership behavior and measurement, and lower pharmacist effort devoted to antibiotic stewardship. Conclusions: Although healthcare professionals endorsed the evidence about nontreatment of ASB, perceived barriers to antibiotic stewardship included inadequate resources and lack of leadership support. These findings provide targets for tailoring the intervention to maximize the success of our stewardship program. Our support to sites with lower leadership scores includes training of local champions who are dedicated to supporting the intervention. For sites with low scores for resources, our targeted implementation strategies include analyzing local needs and avoiding increased workload for existing personnel.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Patient involvement is increasingly recognized as critical component for improved care, and patients has been identified of as having a potentially important role for better health outcome as a result of their involvement in their care plan. A usual saying that infection prevention and control is “everyone’s business” is frequently understood to include not only healthcare workers but also patients and their relatives, all of whom are seen as stakeholders with a part to play in ensuring a better patient outcome. There is limited evidence about knowledge and perception about involving patient and/or relatives in IPC implementation in a post–Ebola-outbreak country. Objectives: We aimed to ascertain the knowledge and perception of patient involvement in infection prevention and control (IPC) practice. Methods: We used a qualitative approach comprising interviews with patients and/or relatives and health workers sampled from 5 hospitals. Participants (n = 60) included 25 nurses, 25 patients and/or relatives, 5 IPC focal persons, and 5 hospital administrators. Interviews used a structured questionnaire to explore staff views on patient involvement. A separate questionnaire was used to survey patient perspectives and knowledge about basic hospital IPC practices. Results: Of 60 interviews, 64% of nurses supported involving patient in hospital IPC practice, saying that the patient can serve as a reminder during the time of care, whereas 36% disagreed with involving the patient because of fear of having confrontations with the patient. Also, 92% of patients and/or relatives agreed to their involvement because they viewed it as their right; only 8% did not accept involvement because they thought it was a burden and not their responsibility. All 5 IPC focal persons (100%) supported patient involvement; they thought it would enhance overall IPC compliance and keep healthcare workers reminded of IPC practice, most especially hand hygiene. Also, 100% of hospital administrators supported involving patients because they felt that patient should be involved in their care plan. Conclusions: From this study, it is evident that patient involvement is key in optimizing IPC compliance in hospitals. The study findings indicate that most patients have knowledge of the importance of hand washing since the Ebola outbreak; however, they lack knowledge on other practices such as waste disposal, cough etiquette, etc. There is need for IPC orientation on admission and continuous patient education.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

If I am discussing specific healthcare products or services, I will use generic names to extent possible. If I need to use trade names, I will use trade names from several companies when available, and not just trade names from any single company.

Disagree

Christiana Kallon

Background: Stethoscopes are known to be highly contaminated by a multitude of bacteria and therefore carry the potential to transmit pathogens within hospitals. North American infection prevention groups recommend low-level disinfection of stethoscopes for bioburden reduction between patients; however, adherence remains low in inpatient settings. Given that the lack of access to disinfection materials is the most commonly reported barrier to stethoscope hygiene, we studied an intervention using a point-of-care approach to increase stethoscope hygiene compliance among healthcare workers in critical care units. Methods: This quality improvement study was conducted in 2 critical-care units of a quaternary-care, academic, health sciences center in Toronto, Canada. We designed novel stethoscope hygiene stations consisting of a wall-mounted board with alcohol wipes, hooks for drying, and hand sanitizer dispensers to combine stethoscope and hand hygiene. Observations of stethoscope disinfection events per opportunity were collected by trained human auditors before and after the multimodal intervention, which consisted of the installation of 14 stations at the entrances of single-patient ICU rooms, accompanied by educational lectures and infographic dissemination. Anonymous feedback forms were used to gather information on healthcare workers’ stethoscope hygiene knowledge and behavior before and after the intervention. Results: In total, 124 observations were collected using convenience sampling between February and July 2019. Overall stethoscope hygiene compliance increased significantly from a baseline of 38% to 62% (P = .0316) (Fig. 1). Physician adherence to stethoscope disinfection increased by 22%. During the study period, hand hygiene compliance remained unchanged at 75%. Also, 74 healthcare providers completed feedback forms; they revealed an increase in awareness of stethoscope hygiene policies and/or recommendations (9% to 41%) and self reports of stethoscope hygiene compliance (28% to 44%). Conclusions: The implementation of stethoscope hygiene stations, coupled with an educational initiative, lead to a significant increase in overall stethoscope hygiene compliance among healthcare workers. Future quality improvement initiatives can adapt this strategy to promote disinfection and reduce pathogen burden of other personal and multiuse medical equipment.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Susy Hota reports contract research for Finch Therapeutics.

Background: Antibiotic resistance (AMR) is a safety concern for patients in Sierra Leone. AMR can occur in communities and as well in the process of receiving treatments in healthcare settings, and it can pose a major threat to patient safety. Healthcare-associated infections and AMR result in longer duration of illness, longer treatment, higher mortality, increased costs, and increased burden to health facilities. Objective: The purpose of this study was to generate more reliable estimates of the risk factors for the prevalence of HAI and to investigate patterns of antibiotic prescriptions done. Methods: The survey was conducted in 6 regional hospitals in Sierra Leone (Kono, Kambia, BO, Makeni, Moyamba, and Kenema) from June 16 to July 10 2019. The survey targeted inpatients in the pediatric, maternity, medical, and surgical wards. A structured questionnaire adopted from the WHO PPS form was used to collect information from patient medical charts and care notes. Results: Data were collected from 156 patients, of whom 140 patients were on antibiotics, 100 were women, and 40 were men. Patients on 1 antibiotic regimen accounted for 8.6% (n = 12) and 91.4% (n = 128) on a regimen of 2 or 3 antibiotics. Only 5 patients (3.6%) were on oral antibiotics and 135 (96.4%) were on IV antibiotics. In the maternity ward, 28 of 40 patients (70%) had had a caesarian section and were on 2 or more antibiotics; 18 patients with caesarian sections (64.3%) developed complications and continued on an antibiotic regimen for >1 week. The remaining 12 patients (30%) in the maternity ward were admitted for anemia and hypertension (ie, preeclampsia), and these patients were on 1 antibiotic regimen for which they had no clinical indication. Conclusions: The survey results show that every patient admitted to the hospital was covered with antibiotics with or without indications; no laboratory investigations were performed before antibiotics were initiated. These findings further reveal a large number of patients who were exposed to intravenous cannulation, which predisposes catheter-associated bloodstream infections. The survey results justify the need for an antibiotic stewardship program to guide use of antibiotics.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

If I am discussing specific healthcare products or services, I will use generic names to extent possible. If I need to use trade names, I will use trade names from several companies when available, and not just trade names from any single company.

Disagree

Christiana Kallon