400. Secondary Infections in COVID-19 Patients Receiving Tocilizumab in a Community Hospital

Background

Secondary bacterial/fungal infection in patients with pandemic strains of Influenza has been well documented in the literature. Little is known about the development of secondary bacterial or fungal infections in patients with COVID-19. Additionally, COVID patients receiving tocilizumab as treatment may be at higher risk for developing a secondary infection due to theoretical risk of immunosuppression.

Table 1

Table 2

Methods

A retrospective analysis of all COVID positive patients admitted to a 128 bed community hospital in Westchester County, NY from March 1 – May 31, 2020. The data was analyzed to determine incidence of secondary infections based on positive cultures in patients and further stratified based on receipt of tocilizumab.

Results

Out of 445 COVID positive patients reviewed, 69 (15.5%) had positive bacterial/fungal cultures. Average age of the patient population reviewed was 64 (range 1 – 106) and 60% of the patients were male. As of May 31, 2020, 114 of the patients had expired, 281 were discharged, 23 were transferred, and 27 were still admitted to the hospital.

Of the 445 total patients, 42 received at least 1 dose of tocilizumab. Out of those patients, 6 patients (14.3%) had subsequent positive cultures. (Table 1) This was not statistically significant (p = 0.8185).

Most common positive specimens were in urine (n=38), blood (n=33), and respiratory specimens (n=20). Most commonly found co-pathogens were Escherichia coli (n=22), Coagulase-negative staphylococci (n=11), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=9).

Of the 69 patients with positive cultures, 27 received ICU level of care. (Table 2)

Conclusion

A small retrospective study found that the incidence of bacterial or fungal co-infection for COVID positive patients was high but did not find receipt of tocilizumab was associated with secondary infections. This suggests areas for future study and further investigation as hospitals consider use of immunomodulatory therapies in the treatment of COVID-19.

Disclosures

All Authors: No reported disclosures

553. Outbreak of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Associated with Hepatic Artery Infusion Pumps

Background

Device-related infections account for a fourth of all HAIs. Hepatic artery infusion pump (HAIP) devices are used to deliver chemotherapy directly into the hepatic artery. This device is used primarily in patients with colorectal cancer for the management of unresectable hepatic metastases. We describe the infection rates and outbreak management of MRSA-related infections in newly placed HAIPs.

Methods

In December 2018, a cluster of 3 MRSA cases was identified within 15–26 days of HAIP insertion. From January 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018, patients with culture proven SSIs within 30 days of HAIP placement were identified through the infection control database to establish baseline rates. Procedural denominator data were found by querying CPT procedure codes. EMR was reviewed to extract clinical characteristics. In response to the cluster, healthcare personnel (HCP) were screened for MRSA by PCR and environmental cultures performed. PFGE and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed to compare isolates recovered in culture and SNP analysis performed using the BioNumerics software v7.6.

Results

IIn December 2018, 3/15 patients with HAIP procedures developed MRSA infections within 30 days of the procedures (post-op days: 15,16,26). The baseline 30 day SSI rate for HAIP in 2017 was 1.3% (2/160). No infections, prior to the cluster, in 2017–18 were MRSA related. All patients were male, with a median age of 49 years (range: 45–54). Sixty HCP who provided direct care during the peri and early post-operative period for the 3 cases were screened for MRSA carriage; 2/60 (3.3%) were positive. All 56 environmental cultures were negative for MRSA. WGS of the 3 patient samples showed 2/3 samples were identical (1 SNP difference); confirming common source transmission. Only one HCP isolate was available for WGS and shown to be unrelated to the two patient isolates. Both employees underwent decolonization. Review of HAIP handling did not reveal obvious lapses, but mask use and strict hand hygiene were enforced with HCPs. No further infections have been identified in the 76 procedures since the cluster.

Conclusion

WGS confirmed common source transmission between two newly placed HAIP although the definitive source could not be identified. Surveillance and prevention efforts should extend to all types of vascular access devices.

Disclosures

All authors: No reported disclosures.

2390. Acquisition of Clostridium difficile Infection Following Exposure from Roommate Defined by Concordance on Genotyping

Background

Observational studies have identified same room occupancy with a hospital-onset Clostridium difficile infection (HO-CDI) case as a risk factor for subsequent CDI diagnosis. Despite this, the risk remains poorly characterized in endemic settings. Furthermore, genotyping techniques have not been applied to examine concordance between infecting strains in index patients and exposed roommates who eventually develop CDI. The study seeks to quantify transmission of C. difficile from an index case to their roommates and identify if concordance was present among strain types by the application of multi-locus sequence typing (MLST).

Methods

Laboratory-identified cases of hospital onset C. difficile infection (CDI) from October 1, 2017 through March 31, 2018, were included in the study. Patients with HO-CDI are placed in private room once diagnosis is established. Roommates who were in the same room as cases for at least 24 hours prior to diagnosis, regardless of duration of overlap, were identified through of the hospital patient tracking database to establish spatial link. Next, all exposed roommates who developed CDI within 3 months after exposure (defined as date of CDI diagnosis of index case) were identified. Strain types of linked cases was examined by MLST.

Results

During the 6-month period, 279 cases of CDI were diagnosed. Of these cases, 156 were hospitalized at the time of diagnosis including 83 (53%) in a room with shared occupancy. These 83 patients had 109 roommates that met exposure criteria. Four (3.7%) roommates developed CDI over a 90-day follow-up period. None of the examined pairs were genetically concordant.

Conclusion

Indirect patient to patient transmission of C. difficile from newly diagnosed CDI cases to roommates is not common despite the spatial proximity with shared occupancy.

Disclosures

All authors: No reported disclosures.

Effectiveness of a multidisciplinary patient care bundle for reducing surgical-site infections

BACKGROUND

Surgical-site infection (SSI) is associated with significant healthcare costs. To reduce the high rate of SSI among patients undergoing colorectal surgery at a cancer centre, a comprehensive care bundle was implemented and its efficacy tested.

METHODS

A pragmatic study involving three phases (baseline, implementation and sustainability) was conducted on patients treated consecutively between 2013 and 2016. The intervention included 13 components related to: bowel preparation; oral and intravenous antibiotic selection and administration; skin preparation, disinfection and hygiene; maintenance of normothermia during surgery; and use of clean instruments for closure. SSI risk was evaluated by means of a preoperative calculator, and effectiveness was assessed using interrupted time-series regression.

RESULTS

In a population with a mean BMI of 30 kg/m² , diabetes mellitus in 17·5 per cent, and smoking history in 49·3 per cent, SSI rates declined from 11·0 to 4·1 per cent following implementation of the intervention bundle (P = 0·001). The greatest reductions in SSI rates occurred in patients at intermediate or high risk of SSI: from 10·3 to 4·7 per cent (P = 0·006) and from 19 to 2 per cent (P < 0·001) respectively. Wound care modifications were very different in the implementation phase (43·2 versus 24·9 per cent baseline), including use of an overlying surface vacuum dressing (17·2 from 1·4 per cent baseline) or leaving wounds partially open (13·2 from 6·7 per cent baseline). As a result, the biggest difference was in wound-related rather than organ-space SSI. The median length of hospital stay decreased from 7 (i.q.r. 5-10) to 6 (5-9) days (P = 0·002). The greatest reduction in hospital stay was seen in patients at high risk of SSI: from 8 to 6 days (P < 0·001). SSI rates remained low (4·5 per cent) in the sustainability phase.

CONCLUSION

Meaningful reductions in SSI can be achieved by implementing a multidisciplinary care bundle at a hospital-wide level.

Practically speaking: rethinking hand hygiene improvement programs in health care settings

BACKGROUND

Hand hygiene is widely recognized as the single most effective means of reducing health care-associated infections. Implementing a credible hand hygiene program and maintaining high compliance among staff is both expected and required of hospitals. However, beyond general guidelines, few resources are available for establishing an institution-wide hand hygiene program that is both successful and sustainable over the long term.

METHODS

Beginning in 2008, we completely overhauled the approach to hand hygiene at our institution. We created small teams consisting of a representative from Quality Assessment, an Infection Prevention Practitioner, and staff from a particular unit. Teams began by discussing the current barriers to hand hygiene success. They then set their own goals for hand hygiene compliance. Staff learned the World Health Organization (WHO) hand hygiene guidelines, which recently had been adopted as part of hospital infection prevention policy. Using the WHO guidelines, teams diagrammed detailed workflows for several of their most common patient care tasks. Wherever hand hygiene was indicated, the workflow was marked with a number corresponding to one or more of the WHO's "5 moments for hand hygiene." At the end of the 12-week period, staff members were trained to observe each other and began officially collecting and submitting data to Infection Prevention.

RESULTS

Between 2006 and 2008, our average institutional hand hygiene compliance held steady at 60%-70%. After the new program was launched in 2008, compliance reached 97% and has been maintained at this level ever since. In addition to the 19 areas of the hospital that were observed previously, 15 ambulatory facilities and 5 regional sites are now included in the data.

CONCLUSION

This article describes a novel approach to measuring, monitoring, and ultimately increasing hand hygiene compliance at our hospital. Our objective is to provide concrete, practical strategies for other institutions faced with the challenge of building or revamping their own hand hygiene programs.