Background: Transmissible spongiform encephalopathies comprise a class of rapidly progressive and inevitably fatal degenerative brain disorders. The pathogenesis of these diseases is thought to be due to a change in the structure of the normal prion protein to an abnormal structure, leading to propagation of the abnormal protein. This abnormal protein is highly transmissible; thus, appropriate infection control measures should be put in place if the diagnosis is suspected. However, the diagnosis is often not considered at all, and many hospitals do not have protocols in place. Our hospital missed a case of familial fatal insomnia in a 45-year-old male. He was diagnosed with fatal familial insomnia by autopsy. The autopsy was performed without appropriate infection control measures, leading to costly contamination of medical instruments and exposure of multiple staff. This occurrence led our institution to re-evaluate hospital protocols and guidelines regarding workup and management of transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). Methods: We reviewed cases of TSEs or Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD)-like illness presenting to our hospital over a 30-month period. Patients were considered for inclusion based on clinical suspicion. CDC diagnostic criteria were used. Infection control measures were employed, including an alert in the EMR. MRI was then performed. If clinical or diagnostic suspicion was high, the patient underwent lumbar puncture. CSF results were reviewed based on criteria Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease Foundation criteria. Infection control measures were maintained throughout hospitalization. Results: In total, 34 patients met the inclusion criteria: 8 patients had confirmed CJD and 25 were negative. Medical records were not available for 1 patient, who was excluded. Lumbar puncture was performed on all suspected cases. Of those confirmed cases, the 7 patients who underwent lumber puncture had a positive result for 14-3-3 protein. Also, 5 patients underwent RT-QuIC testing and were found to have a positive result. No further cases of contamination occurred using our protocol. Additionally, 1 patient with suspected CJD underwent a brain biopsy with appropriate precautions after an inconclusive lumbar puncture. Although biospy was negative, the case exemplifies how the initiation of a protocol can optimize the workflow and prevent potentially dangerous exposure. Conclusion: Diagnosis of TSEs remains difficult and is often missed. In our case, lack of suspicion for TSE led to a waste of resources and unnecessary exposure of staff member. It is of utmost importance to consider TSEs in rapidly progressive dementia and to employ appropriate sterile guidelines to prevent contamination of equipment and potential subsequent transmission. Healthcare providers should consider a similar protocol in cases suspicious for TSEs.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Barrier precautions (eg, gloves and gowns) are often used in clinical settings to reduce the risk for transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens. However, uncertainty persists regarding the efficacy of different types of barrier precautions in preventing transmission. Methods: We used simulated patient care interactions to compare the effectiveness of different levels of barrier precautions in reducing transfer of pathogen surrogate markers. Overall, 30 personnel performed standardized examinations of contaminated mannequins while wearing either no barriers, gloves, or gloves plus cover gowns followed by examination of a noncontaminated mannequin; the order of the barrier precautions was randomly assigned. Participants used their usual technique for hand hygiene, stethoscope cleaning, and protective equipment removal. The surrogate markers included cauliflower mosaic virus DNA, bacteriophage MS2, nontoxigenic Clostridium difficile spores, and a fluorescent tracer. We compared the frequency and route of transfer of each of the surrogate markers to the second mannequin or to the surrounding environment. Results: As shown in Fig. 1, wearing gloves alone or gloves plus gowns significantly reduced transfer of each of the surrogate markers by the hands of participants (P < .05 for each marker). However, wearing gloves or gloves plus gowns only modestly reduced transfer by stethoscopes despite cleaning of stethoscopes between exams by approximately half of the participants. Contamination of the clothing of participants was significantly reduced in the glove plus gown group versus the gloves only or no-barriers groups (P < .05). Conclusion: Barrier precautions are effective in reducing hand transfer of pathogens from patient to patient, but transfer may still occur via devices such as stethoscopes. Cover gowns reduce the risk for contamination of the clothing of personnel.

Funding: Proprietary Organization: The Center for Disease Control.

Disclosures: None

Background: Surgical site infections (SSIs) complicate ~2% of primary total hip (THAs) or total knee arthroplasties (TKAs). Accurate and timely identification through surveillance is essential for targeted implementation and monitoring of preventive interventions. Electronic health records (EHR) facilitate (semi)-automated surveillance and enable upscaling. A validated algorithm is a prerequisite for broader implementation of semiautomated surveillance. Objectives: To validate a previously published algorithm for semiautomated surveillance of deep SSI after THA or TKA in 4 independent regional Dutch hospitals. The algorithm was developed and implemented in the University Medical Centre Utrecht and relies on retrospective routine care data. Methods: For this multicenter retrospective cohort study, the following data required for the algorithm were extracted from the EHR from all patients under THA and TKA surveillance: microbiology results, antibiotics, (re)admissions, and surgical procedures within the 120 days following the primary surgery. Patients were retrospectively classified with a low or high probability of having developed a deep SSI after THA or TKA, according to the algorithm. Sensitivity, positive predictive value (PPV), and workload reduction (defined as the proportion of manuals requiring review) were calculated compared to the traditional (manual) surveillance results, as reported to the national surveillance PREZIES. Discrepancy analyses were performed to understand algorithm results. Results: Data from 8,378 total THA and TKA surgeries (deep SSI n = 95, 1.1%) performed between 2012 and 2018 were extracted by 4 hospitals (Table 1). Sensitivity ranged across centers from 93.6% to 100%, with a PPV from 55.8% to 72.2%. In all hospitals, the algorithm resulted in >98% workload reduction. Cases missed by the algorithm could be explained by incomplete data extraction. Conclusions: This study shows that the surveillance algorithm performance is good in general Dutch hospitals. Broader implementation of this semiautomated surveillance for SSIs after THA or TKA may be possible in the near future and will result in a substantial workload reduction.

Funding: This work was supported by the Regional Healthcare Network Antibiotic Resistance Utrecht with a subsidy of the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (grant number 326835).

Disclosures: None

Background: Water management programs (WMPs) are needed to minimize the growth and transmission of opportunistic pathogens in healthcare facility water systems. In 2017, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service (CMS) began requiring that certified hospitals in the United States have water management policies and procedures; in response, the National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) Annual Hospital Survey included new, voluntary questions on practices regarding water management and monitoring. Of 4,929 hospitals surveyed in 2017, 3,821 (77.5%) reported having a WMP. Of these 3,821 facilities, 86.9% reported regular monitoring of water temperature; 66.2% monitored disinfectant (eg, residual chlorine); 63.1% used specific tests for Legionella; and 35.6% performed heterotrophic plate counts (HPCs). We analyzed new, 2018 hospital survey data to assess further progress toward meeting CMS requirements for WMPs. Methods: We analyzed 2018 NHSN Annual Hospital Survey responses for facilities that reported on WMPs in 2017. Responses included information regarding risk assessments for Legionella and other waterborne pathogens as well as details regarding WMP teams and water-monitoring practices. WMP team members were categorized as administrative (hospital administrator, compliance officer, risk or quality management), epidemiology or infection control (epidemiologist or infection preventionist, other clinical), or environmental or facilities (consultant, facility manager or engineer, equipment or chemical supplier, maintenance). Statistical significance was assessed using the McNemar test, where appropriate. Results: Of hospitals reporting on WMPs in 2017, 4,087 of 4,929 (83%) responded again in 2018. The proportion of facilities that reported having a WMP increased from 3,258 of 4,087 (79.7%) in 2017 to 3,647 of 4,087 (89.2%) in 2018 (P < .0001). Of the 3,647 hospitals that reported having a WMP in 2018, 95.9% had conducted a risk assessment for waterborne pathogens; 67.3% of these facilities had most recently done so within 1 year of the survey. WMP teams had representation from environmental or facilities staff at 98.8% of hospitals, epidemiology or infection control staff at 89.8% of hospitals, and administrative staff at 71.7% of hospitals. Of facilities with WMPs in 2018, 90.5% reported regular monitoring of water temperature, 72.2% disinfectant, 67.4% tests for Legionella, and 48.8% HPCs. Conclusions: More hospitals reported having a WMP in 2018 than 2017. However, ~1 in 10 respondents lacked a WMP. Differences in water monitoring practices across facilities potentially reflect a lack of standardization in how WMPs are implemented. Some hospital WMPs do not incorporate routine monitoring of water temperature and disinfectant, which is a basic practice. CDC continues to develop tools, resources, and training to support facility WMP teams in meeting CMS requirements and protecting patients from water-associated pathogens.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: In December of 2019, the World Health Organization reported a novel coronavirus (severe acute respiratory coronavirus virus 2 [SARS-CoV-2)]) causing severe respiratory illness originating in Wuhan, China. Since then, an increasing number of cases and the confirmation of human-to-human transmission has led to the need to develop a communication campaign at our institution. We describe the impact of the communication campaign on the number of calls received and describe patterns of calls during the early stages of our response to this emerging infection. Methods: The University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics is an 811-bed academic medical center with >200 outpatient clinics. In response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, we launched a communications campaign on January 17, 2020. Initial communications included email updates to staff and a dedicated COVID-19 webpage with up-to-date information. Subsequently, we developed an electronic screening tool to guide a risk assessment during patient check in. The screening tool identifies travel to China in the past 14 days and the presence of symptoms defined as fever >37.7°C plus cough or difficulty breathing. The screening tool was activated on January 24, 2020. In addition, university staff contacted each student whose primary residence record included Hubei Province, China. Students were provided with medical contact information, signs and symptoms to monitor for, and a thermometer. Results: During the first 5 days of the campaign, 3 calls were related to COVID-19. The number of calls increased to 18 in the 5 days following the implementation of the electronic screening tool. Of the 21 calls received to date, 8 calls (38%) were generated due to the electronic travel screen, 4 calls (19%) were due to a positive coronavirus result in a multiplex respiratory panel, 4 calls (19%) were related to provider assessment only (without an electronic screening trigger), and 2 calls (10%) sought additional information following the viewing of the web-based communication campaign. Moreover, 3 calls (14%) were for people without travel history but with respiratory symptoms and contact with a person with recent travel to China. Among those reporting symptoms after travel to China, mean time since arrival to the United States was 2.7 days (range, 0–11 days). Conclusion: The COVID-19 outbreak is evolving, and providing up to date information is challenging. Implementing an electronic screening tool helped providers assess patients and direct questions to infection prevention professionals. Analyzing the types of calls received helped tailor messaging to frontline staff.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Annual flu vaccination is the most effective way to prevent the disease and its complications. Vaccine effectiveness (EV) varies from season to season, requiring annual re-evaluation. The objective of this study was to estimate the preliminary effectiveness of the influenza vaccine until epidemiological week 4 of the 2019–2020 season, in patients admitted to a tertiary-level hospital. Method: We conducted a case-control study at University General Hospital, Alicante, Spain, during the 2019–2020 season. We included all patients hospitalized with influenza confirmed by laboratory test (ie, PCR positive for influenza) during the period between epidemiological week 40 of 2019 and epidemiological week 4 of 2020. These were considered cases, and those with clinical suspicion of influenza and negative RT-PCR were considered controls. Vaccination coverage was calculated in cases and in controls, determining the odds ratio. We calculated the vaccine effectiveness (VE) and its 95% confidence interval using the following formula: VE = (1 − odds ratio) ×100. Result: We included 545 patients: 61 cases and 484 controls. The overall EV for influenza cases prevention was 40.7% (95% CI, −17.1 to 70.1), and for those >1 year of age, the overall EV was 56.9% (95% CI, 13.9–78.5). Conclusion: The 2019–2020 Influenza vaccine was effective in preventing influenza cases in patients admitted up to week 4 of the 2019–2020 season. These results are preliminary and may vary; they should be re-evaluated at the end of the season.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has emerged as standard of care for Clostridioides difficile not responsive to antibiotic therapy. Rigorous screening of healthy donors is critical to patient safety. As part of routine donor evaluation for FMT, multidrug-resistant organism (MDRO) screening is performed to assess the presence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing organisms (ESBLs), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Carriage rates of these organisms in a healthy, low-risk population are largely unknown. We report MDRO carriage rates among individuals screened for a stool donation program at a large-scale FMT stool bank. Methods: Individuals were screened at a nonprofit stool bank (OpenBiome, Cambridge, MA). Potential donors underwent in-person clinical assessment, including MDRO risk factors (eg, travel, occupation, healthcare exposure). If they met the clinical assessment criteria, laboratory testing, including MDROs, was performed. Once enrolled in the donor program, donors underwent repeated clinical and laboratory screening at 60-day intervals, with intermittent health checks throughout the donation period. Stool samples provided at 60-day intervals were screened for MDROs (ie, ESBL, CRE, VRE), and nasal swabs for MRSA were tested using culture-based methods. All stool samples tested for MDROs from prospective and enrolled donors were included. Results: Between February 2017 and July 2019, 247 individuals were screened for MDROs. Overall, 11 samples (0.04%) tested positive for ESBL, MRSA, or VRE. No CRE carriers were identified. Also, 2 individuals tested positive twice for ESBL, resulting in 13 of 1,688 (0.77%) positive screens. International travel in the previous 12 months was reported by 6 of 11 MDRO carriers. Occupations typically associated with MDROs were not observed in carriers. Most of the MDRO-positive donors were students; however, students make up the majority of the stool donor cohort. Conclusions: This study is the first to report background MDRO carriage rates in a population of otherwise healthy FMT stool donors. Although rare, MDROs were detected and should be part of standard guidelines for FMT donor screening. Most subjects testing positive for MDROs had defined risk factors associated with MDRO carriage, including international travel or exposure to healthcare environments. However, occupational exposure was not a factor associated with carriage in this study. Standardized donor screening guidelines for FMT are urgently needed to ensure that MDROs and risk factors for MDRO carriage are routinely screened for by all FMT providers. Stool banks present a unique public health opportunity to evaluate the background carriage rate of MDROs in healthy populations.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Isolation precautions (IPs; ie, patient isolation with transmission-based precautions) are essential in hospital infection control interventions to prevent the transmission of healthcare-associated infections. Because IPs require healthcare personnel (HCP) to use personal protective equipment (PPE; eg, gown, gloves, and mask) to enter patient isolation rooms and perform hand hygiene (HH) frequently, IPs are often regarded as cumbersome tasks and may lead to fewer HCP visits. This observation study examined the time burden of IPs (ie, PPE use and HH) from time spent on HCP tasks, including patient treatment and care, in patient isolation rooms. Methods: With institutional review board approval, participating hospitals were recruited. At each hospital, assigned infection control nurses observed HCP tasks at patient isolation rooms of interest and recorded each task’s duration, using a stopwatch or timer and an observation form. For each observation block (ie, a duty period at 1 observation unit, regardless of the number of observed isolation rooms), unit-related information was collected, including the numbers of hospitalized patients, admission patients, discharge patients, isolation patients, and nurses. For each block, IP proportions were calculated by total time spent on IP divided by the total time spent on all tasks. Descriptive statistics, t test, ANOVA, and regression analyses were conducted using STATA version 16.0 software. Results: Three university-affiliated hospitals (838 average hospital beds, range 811–855) participated from April 2 to May 18, 2019 (for 7–9 days). In total, 2,901 tasks were monitored and the total time spent was 164,973 seconds; most tasks were done by nurses (89.2%) and females (86.8%). Although the most time-intensive task was procedures (eg, intravenous infusion) followed by medication, PPE use was the most frequent task followed by HH (Table 1). Regarding IP proportions, an overall average of 23.6% of total task time was spent on IPs (16.1% for PPE use and 7.5% for HH) in patient isolation rooms (Table 2). Notably, tasks in the tuberculosis isolation room of hospital B showed a greater HH proportion (13.7%) than PPE proportion (13.5%) because HCP usually use N95 masks only. Wards, compared to intensive care units (ICUs), showed higher PPE proportions (19.2%), potentially due to PPE stock in the nurse station and less PPE education compared to ICUs. Conclusions: Our study results demonstrated the substantial amount of time spent on IP compliance among all task durations in patient isolation rooms. To improve IP compliance, this time burden needs to be considered with greater system support, such as more nursing staff.

Funding: This research was supported by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Education (Grant no. 2017R1D1A1B03036377).

Disclosures: None

Background: Following the first reports of the emergence of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) in the 1970s, several measures to prevent its transmission were introduced in hospitals. However, controversy continues regarding the best approach to prevent and control MRSA, especially in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). Objective: To report the reduction of colonization and primary central venous catheter–related bloodstream infection (CRBSI) caused by MRSA through surveillance, decolonization, and adoption of best practices in intravenous catheter care. Methods: Quasi-experimental, nonrandomized, before-and-after intervention study conducted in a 70-bed NICU in a private maternity hospital in Brazil. Period studied comprehended between August 2018 and May 2019 (period 1 - preintervention) and June to December 2019 (period II - postintervention). At the end of period 1, several measures were implanted to control and prevent colonization and CRBSI in the unit. The following measures were implemented: incentive to hand hygiene; best practices training on medication preparation and central catheter manipulation; systematic screening of colonized patients with nasal and umbilical swabs; contact precautions for colonized newborn (NB); contact precautions for twins of a colonized NB even when they had a negative swab; decolonization of patients with nasal mupirocin and chlorohexidine (oral preparation) for oral hygiene; concurrent linen change at the end of the patient’s decolonization; decolonization of parents of colonized siblings with chlorohexidine bath and nasal mupirocin; environmental organization; intensification of cleaning and disinfection of equipment and articles; cohort of patients and workers; isolation and precautions compliance audit; professional investigation and decolonization and universal chlorhexidine bath for newborns. Results: In periods I and II, the positivity rates of the collected swabs were 4.14% and 0.75% (P < .0001), respectively, with a peak of positivity of 11.8% in January. Also, 12 episodes of CRBSI were documented in period I (incidence, 2.9%) versus no episode in period 2, with a significant difference in incidence rate between the 2 periods (P = .002). Conclusion: The innovative measures were effective for eradicating the outbreak when instituted together with recognized good practices. In an outbreak scenario is difficult to define the isolated impact of each measure, although, parents’ decolonization to prevent the colonization of other siblings and contact precautions for twins of colonized NB seemed to improve the results.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: The National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) has used positive laboratory tests for surveillance of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) LabID events since 2009. Typically, CDIs are detected using enzyme immunoassays (EIAs), nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs), or various test combinations. The NHSN uses a risk-adjusted, standardized infection ratio (SIR) to assess healthcare facility-onset (HO) CDI. Despite including test type in the risk adjustment, some hospital personnel and other stakeholders are concerned that NAAT use is associated with higher SIRs than EIA use. To investigate this issue, we analyzed NHSN data from acute-care hospitals for July 1, 2017, through June 30, 2018. Methods: Calendar quarters where CDI test type was reported as NAAT (includes NAAT, glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH)+NAAT and GDH+EIA followed by NAAT if discrepant) or EIA (includes EIA and GDH+EIA) were selected. HO-CDI SIRs were calculated for facility-wide inpatient locations. We conducted the following 2 analyses: (1) Among hospitals that did not switch their test type, we compared the distribution of HO incident rates and SIRs by those reporting NAAT versus EIA. (2) Among hospitals that switched their test type, we selected quarters with a stable switch pattern of 2 consecutive quarters of each of EIA and NAAT (categorized as EIA-to-NAAT or NAAT-to-EIA). Pooled semiannual SIRs for EIA and NAAT were calculated, and a paired t test was used to evaluate the difference in SIRs by switch pattern. Results: Most hospitals did not switch test types (3,242, 89%), and 2,872 (89%) reported sufficient data to calculate an SIR, with 2,444 (85%) using NAAT. The crude pooled HO CDI incidence rates for hospitals using EIAs clustered at the lower end of the histogram versus rates for NAATs (Fig. 1). The SIR distributions, both NAATs and EIAs, overlapped substantially and covered a similar range of SIR values (Fig. 1). Among hospitals with a switch pattern, hospitals were equally likely to have an increase or decrease in their SIRs (Fig. 2). The mean SIR difference for the 42 hospitals switching from EIA to NAAT was 0.048 (95% CI, −0.189 to 0.284; P = .688). The mean SIR difference for the 26 hospitals switching from NAAT to EIA was 0.162 (95% CI, −0.048 to 0.371; P = .124). Conclusions: The pattern of SIR distribution for both NAAT and EIA substantiate the soundness of the NHSN’s risk adjustment for CDI test types. Switching test type did not produce a consistent directional pattern in SIR that was statistically significant.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: In 2017, a new antimicrobial stewardship standard was established by the Joint Commission that requires long-term care facilities (LTCFs) to have an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) based on current scientific literature. The Tennessee Department of Health (TDH) team sought to ascertain the current state of ASPs across Tennessee and to assist programs with implementation strategies. Utilizing a Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services’ Civil Monetary Penalties grant, the TDH purchased copies of the National Quality Partners Playbook for Antibiotic Stewardship in Post-Acute and Long-Term Care to provide to LTCFs as incentive to complete a survey that would evaluate their current adoption of core elements. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire on ASP practices was developed and distributed to LCTFs. This survey expanded upon questions from the NHSN 2018 LTCF annual survey. These questions pertained to actionable items facilities are taking to achieve core elements. Achievement of the CDC’s 7 core elements of ASPs was determined based upon a combination of 1 or more responses to the survey questions. The percentage of LTCFs achieving each ASP core element at the regional and statewide level was determined. We also calculated the percentage of LTCFs that achieved all 7 elements versus 5 or more core elements. The analyses and visualizations were performed using SAS 9.4 and Tableau software. Results: Currently, 88 of 316 licensed LTCF facilities in Tennessee have participated in the survey. All regions were represented by EMS region. Based on the results of our survey, 100% of participating facilities have achieved at least 5 core elements, and 78% of participating facilities have achieved all 7 core elements. The core element with the lowest achievement was Accountability at 89%, and reporting and action had the highest achievement (100%). Conclusions: Early results suggest that LTCFs across Tennessee have active ASPs with strong core element achievement. However, we received responses from only 27% of licensed LTCFs. Minimal data are available regarding the current state of LTCF ASPs in Tennessee, and data will continue to be collected and analyzed. Participation may be limited to those already actively engaged in public health efforts, including antimicrobial stewardship. LTCFs that have participated in the initial evaluation will be surveyed at 6 months and 12 months after receipt of playbooks to evaluate their ASP progression and NQP Playbook utilization.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Healthcare professionals with roles in infectious disease and antimicrobial stewardship have a growing presence on social media. Twitter has evolved to become a popular venue for healthcare professional communication, with the potential to support improved quality of patient care. To harness this growth and provide an opportunity for learning and networking, we developed a monthly Twitter chat on a variety of antimicrobial stewardship topics. Our objective was to evaluate the reach of this online initiative. Methods: In November 2016, to coincide with World Antibiotic Awareness Week, we held the first ASP chat (#ASPChat). Twitter chats continue monthly for 1 hour each month. Topics range from rapid diagnostic testing to duration of antibiotic therapy, and 6 questions are posed for each event. Questions about common strategies, clinical pearls, helpful resources, and literature are commonly integrated into the discussion. The event is open to all Twitter users regardless of discipline or location of practice. Participants use the ASPChat hash tag to follow along with the conversation. To evaluate the monthly Twitter chats, analytics were obtained from Symplur Healthcare Hashtags including impressions, the number of potential views for each Tweet, number of Tweets, and number of participants. Results: To date, 33 ASPChat events have been held, with a total of 20,478,000 impressions. The average number of Tweets per month was 346 and the average number of participants was 86 (Fig. 1). Participants have included pharmacists, physicians, infection control practitioners, and nonclinicians. Countries represented have included the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The average monthly impressions stands at 620,559 and has increased each year from between 23% and 86%. Conclusions: A monthly Twitter Chat is a feasible and sustainable approach to connecting antimicrobial stewards across a wide geographical range. The broad reach of the ASPChat events presents an opportunity to influence and unite a diverse group of professionals aiming to improve antibiotic use. Further evaluation is recommended to understand the professional and clinical impact of this important communication tool.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Guidelines regarding asymptomatic bacteriuria (ASB) have consistently recommended against screening and treatment in most circumstances. However, screening of patients with spinal cord injury (SCI) is common practice and in some cases is a formal protocol at the organizational level. A previous study found that more than one-third of patients with ASB detected on routine screening cultures performed at annual visits in 2012 received antibiotics. However, the role of antibiotic stewardship has become more prominent over the last decade. We hypothesized that diagnostic and therapeutic stewardship efforts may be impacting the practice of annual urine-culture screening for SCI patients. We evaluated urine culture screening and treatment rates over a 10-year period. Methods: Patients with SCI seen in the VA Boston HCS for an annual exam in 2018 were eligible for inclusion and formed the baseline cohort for this study. Annual visits for the cohort over a 10-year period (January 1, 2009–December 31, 2018) were included in the analysis. Electronic data collection and manual chart review were utilized to capture outcomes of interest including urine culture, antibiotic prescriptions and indication within 15 days, and documentation of urinary or infectious symptoms. The main outcomes were (1) rate of urine cultures performed ±3 days of the visit, (2) rate of antibiotic treatment in asymptomatic patients, and (3) trend over time of urine culturing and treating. The χ2 test for trend was used to compare rates over time. Results: In total, 1,962 annual visits were made by the 344 unique patients over the 10-year period and were available for analysis. Among these, 639 (32.6%) visits had a urine culture performed within 3 days. The proportion of visits with a collected culture decreased from (109 of 127) 85.8% of visits in 2009 to (65 of 338) 19.2% of visits in 2018, P ≤ .001 (Fig. 1). In the treatment analysis, 39 visits were excluded for active symptoms, concern for uncontrolled infection, or prophylaxis as antibiotic indication. Among 600 remaining screening cultures, 328 had a bacterial pathogen or >100,000 mixed colonies consistent with ASB. Overall, 51 patients (17%) received antimicrobials. The rate of antibiotic treatment for ASB did not significantly decrease over time pP = 0.79 (Fig. 2). Conclusions: Over a 10-year period of annual SCI visits, the proportion of visits with a urine culture performed as routine screening significantly and consistently decreased. However, the rate of treatment for positive urine cultures remained consistent. These data support targeted diagnostic stewardship in this population to reduce unnecessary antibiotic use.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Healthcare-associated infection (HAI) control programs have improved patient care all over the world. Our program was implemented in 1997 in a general intensive care unit (ICU) based upon surveillance of HAI with regular infection rates feedback to the ICU team and implementation of best practices such as hand hygiene (HH) and oral care for ventilated patients, optimal care, and early removal of invasive devices. Objective: To report our decreasing HAI rates in the past 22 years. Methods: Hospital Sao Francisco 20-bed ICU admits 120–140 surgical and clinical patients monthly, with 90% occupancy. The HAI infection control team implemented HAI surveillance and developed several protocols for HAI prevention. In the past 5 years, ICU personnel initiated the collection of several indicators using random direct observations of HH compliance, central venous catheter correct care, and appropriated oral care, among others. HAI definitions followed Brazilian Health Ministry HAI definitions and were expressed as infections per 1,000 patient days (total HAI rate) and device-related infections per 1,000 device days. Catheter-associated urinary tract infection (CAUTI), central-line–associated blood stream infection (CLABSI) and ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) rates are reported here. The study period spanned January 1997 to August 2019. Measurement of antibiotic utilization (ie, meropenem, vancomycin, and piperacillin-tazobactam) was calculated by dividing the of antibiotic consumed vials by the daily defined dose and patient days. Results: The total HAI, CAUTI, CLABSI, and VAP rates dropped 70%, 85%, 84%, and 87%, respectively, from 1997 to 2019 (Table 1). From 2009 to 2019, we detected decreases in hospital use of meropenem from 52 to 38, in vancomycin from 50 to 40, and in piperacillin-tazobactam from 144 to 88. Conclusions: HAI control programs can be effective in ICUs, with impressive results, but it requires time and considerable effort. Data on compliance with basic infection control measures should accompany HAI data and should be shared with the ICU team because ICU team participation is essential to keeping the program alive. Broad-spectrum antibiotics use also decreased, with potential benefits to the hospital flora.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Studies have shown that patients colonized with highly resistant microorganisms (HRMO) contaminate the hospital environment, and that transmission from contaminated environments to patients occurs. In May 2018, the Erasmus MC University Medical Center, Rotterdam, moved from a hospital with mostly multiple-occupancy rooms to a new hospital with 100% single-patient rooms with private bathrooms. This move provided the unique opportunity to determine environmental contamination before the new hospital was open for admissions and thereafter and to compare the environmental contamination to the number of patients colonized with HRMO. Method: Environmental sampling took place twice in the old building and 12 times in the new building, from 2 weeks before to 15 months after relocating patients. At each moment, ~306 samples were taken from 13 locations (eg, nightstands, sinks) in 40 patient rooms. Samples were screened for Staphylococcus aureus (methicillin-susceptible [MSSA] and methicillin resistant [MRSA]) and highly resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus faecium, and Enterobacteriales. During the study period, January 1, 2018, until August 31, 2019, all clinical samples positive for HRMO were included. Results: Environmental sampling revealed that 29 of 724 (4.0%) locations were positive for HRMO in the old building, whereas 4 of 3,358 (0.1%) samples in the new building were positive for HRMO (P < .001). In the old building, 14 of 29 locations were positive for extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)–producing bacteria and 15 were positive for carbapenemase-producing bacteria. In the new building, 3 of 4 positive samples were positive for vancomycin-resistant E. faecium (VRE), 1 was positive for ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae. For both HRMO, no carriers were detected. In the old building, 145 of 12,256 adult patients (1.2%) had clinical samples positive for HRMO, compared to 561 of 38,397 (1.5%) in the new building, a small but significant increase (P = .02). Conclusions: The transition from mainly 2- and 4-person rooms to 100% single-patient rooms resulted in a significant decrease in environmental contamination, even though the number of patients colonized with HRMO slightly increased. No molecular typing to determine transfer from environment to patients and vice versa has yet been performed. Future sampling is needed to determine whether the low environmental contamination is a long-term effect of the transition to single rooms.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: Clostridioides difficile is a leading cause of nosocomial infectious diarrhea in developed countries, and it has a significant economic impact throughout the world. Early detection of the pathogen and its toxins is critical because early treatment significantly reduces infection-related morbidity, mortality, and medical cost. Surveillance of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) is conducted using the NHSN standardized infection ratio (SIR). This metric allows comparison of a facility’s observed infection rate to a national benchmark. The SIR can be elevated due to both a lack of institutional criteria for stool submission and the use of highly sensitive but poorly specific testing as a standalone test for diagnosis. The SIR can be artificially elevated by inclusion of C difficile carriers rather than infected patients due to inappropriate testing and overly sensitive methods. We aimed to determine the impact of an institutional nursing-driven protocol for stool submission as well as 2-step testing on the SIR. Methods: Starting from the fourth quarter of 2018, we instituted a nursing protocol for initiation of C. difficile testing. If the patient had ≥3 soft, loose, or liquid stools in 24 hours within the first 3 days of admission, they were placed on contact precautions and an unformed stool sample was submitted for C. difficile nucleic acid amplification testing (NAAT). A positive result prompted further evaluation with a stool enzyme immunoassay toxin test for confirmation of active infection. From hospital day 4 onward, stricter criteria were implemented for testing for C. difficile infection. Data were extrapolated for calculation of a quarterly SIR. This value was then compared to retrospective SIR data from the first quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2018. Results: The quarterly total of hospital-onset C. difficile infections from the first quarter of 2016 to the third quarter of 2018 ranged from 24 to 39 incidents per quarter. After implementing the nursing-driven protocol and 2-step testing, the quarterly total of hospital onset C. difficile infections decreased to 5–6 per quarter. The SIR prior to initiation ranged from 0.66 to 1.37 and decreased to 0.306–0.386 after the nursing-driven protocol and 2-step testing were implemented. Conclusions: Implementation of both an institutional nursing-driven protocol for stool submission and a 2-step testing protocol reduced the number of quarterly hospital-onset C. difficile events as well as our facility’s quarterly SIR to below the national standard.

Funding: None

Disclosures: Ioana Chirca, University Hospital

Background: Pediatric influenza vaccination rates remain <50% in the United States. Children with chronic medical conditions are at higher risk of morbidity and mortality from influenza, yet most experience missed opportunities for immunization in outpatient settings. In an adult cohort study, 74% of patients who had not received the influenza vaccine before or during hospitalization remained unvaccinated through the rest of the season. Thus, inpatient settings represent another important opportunity for vaccinating an especially susceptible population. In addition, 4 published studies have shown promise in improving inpatient pediatric influenza vaccination. However, these studies had limited effect sizes and included interventions requiring ongoing maintenance with dedicated staff. In this study, we hypothesized that a clinical decision support (CDS) intervention designed with user-centered design principles would increase inpatient influenza vaccine administration rates in the 2019–2020 influenza season. Methods: We performed a workflow analysis of different care settings to determine optimal timing of influenza vaccine decision support. Through formative usability testing with frontline clinicians, we developed electronic health record (EHR) prototypes of an order set module containing a default influenza vaccine order. This module was dynamically incorporated into order sets for patients meeting the following criteria: ≥6 months old, no prior influenza vaccine in the current season in our medical system or the state immunization registry, and no prior anaphylaxis to the vaccine. We implemented the CDS into select order sets based on operational leader support. We compared the proportion of eligible hospitalized patients in which the influenza vaccine was administered between our intervention period and the 2018–2019 season (historical controls). To account for secular trends, we also compared the vaccination rates for hospitalized patients exposed to our CDS to those that were not exposed to the CDS during the intervention period (concurrent controls). Results: During the intervention period (September 5, 2019–November 1, 2019), influenza vaccine was administered to 762 of 3,242 (24%) of eligible patients, compared to 360 of 2,875 (13%) among historical controls (P < .0001). Among the 42% of patients exposed to the CDS, vaccination rates were 33% compared to 9% for concurrent controls (p < .0001). Our intervention was limited by end-user uptake, with some physicians or nurses discontinuing the default vaccine order. In addition, early in the intervention, some vaccines were ordered but not administered, leading to vaccine waste. Conclusions: CDS targeting eligible hospitalized patients for influenza vaccination incorporated early into the workflow of nurses and ordering clinicians can substantially improve influenza vaccination rates among this susceptible and hard-to-reach population.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: The reported prevalence of nonprescription antibiotic use in the United States varies from 5% among socioeconomically and ethnically diverse primary care patients to 66% among Latino migrant workers. Reports indicate that people obtain and take antibiotics from stores or flea markets in the United States, friends or relatives, and leftover antibiotics from previous prescriptions. This unsafe practice may lead to unnecessary and inappropriate antibiotic use and increases the risk of antibiotic resistance. As groundwork to develop an intervention to decrease nonprescription antibiotic use, we mapped reported drivers of nonprescription use to the Kilbourne conceptual framework for advancing health disparities research. Methods: The Kilbourne framework consists of 3 phases: (1) detection of health disparities and identification of vulnerable populations, (2) understanding why disparities exist, and (3) reducing or eliminating disparities through interventions. We focused on the first 2 phases and mapped the identified drivers of nonprescription antibiotic use onto the key domains of the Kilbourne conceptual framework: patient, healthcare system, and clinical encounter factors. We also conducted brief field research to explore anecdotal reports regarding availability of nonprescription antibiotics in our community. Results: We found 8 studies addressing factors related to nonprescription antibiotic use in the United States. These studies were primarily qualitative and included Spanish-speaking Hispanic and Latino immigrants. Figure 1 shows the proposed factors that may directly or indirectly predict nonprescription antibiotic use. Key potential factors are individual factors, psychosocial factors, resources, healthcare system factors, and clinical-encounter factors. For example, patients with inadequate health literacy may have poor access to care because of difficulty finding providers and choosing or navigating insurance plans; thus, they may be at risk for nonprescription use. At the same time, patients with inadequate health literacy may be at risk for using nonprescription antibiotics for a viral infection because of difficulty understanding medication labels or package inserts. The relevance of resources (availability) to nonprescription antibiotic use was supported by our research team’s purchase of amoxicillin, tetracycline, and metronidazole without prescriptions from a flea market in Houston, Texas. Conclusions: The Kilbourne conceptual framework provides a strong, comprehensive basis for research and intervention in the challenging problem of nonprescription antibiotic use. Ongoing research will test the proposed relationships between patient, healthcare system, and clinical-encounter factors and nonprescription antibiotic use outcomes. We are conducting a survey among both indigent and insured patient populations to identify the relative importance of these factors and to validate our proposed conceptual framework of nonprescription antibiotic use.

Funding: This project was supported by grant number R01HS026901 from the Agency.

Disclosures: None

Background: Over the past 10 years, a rural health system has tried 10 different interventions to reduce hospital-associated infections (HAIs), and only 1 intervention has led to a reduction in HAIs. Reducing HAIs is a goal of nearly all hospitals, and improper hand hygiene is widely accepted as the main cause of HAIs. Even so, improving hand hygiene compliance is a challenge. Methods: Our facility implemented a two-phase longitudinal study to utilize an electronic hand hygiene reminder system to reduce HAIs. In the first phase, we implemented an intervention in 2 high-risk clinical units. The second phase of the study consisted of expanding the system to 3 additional clinical areas that had a lower incidence of HAIs. The hand hygiene baseline was established at 45% for these units prior to the voice reminder being turned on. Results: The system gathered baseline data prior to being turned on, and our average hand hygiene compliance rate was 49%. Once the voice reminder was turned on, hand hygiene improved nearly 35% within 6 months. During the first phase, there was a statistically significant 62% reduction in the average number of HAIs (catheter associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), central-line–acquired bloodstream infections (CLABSIs), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs), and Clostridiodes difficile experienced in the preliminary units, comparing 12 months prior to 12 months after turning on the voice reminder. In the second phase, hand hygiene compliance increased to >65% in the following 6 months. During the second phase, all HAIs fell by a statistically significant 60%. This was determined by comparing the HAI rates 6 months prior to the voice reminder being turned on to 6 months after the voice reminder was turned on. Conclusions: The HAI data from both phases were aggregated, and there was a statistically significant reduction in MDROs by 90%, CAUTIs by 60%, and C. difficile by 64%. This resulted in annual savings >$1 million in direct costs of nonreimbursed HAIs.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None

Background: In 2015, the CDC NHSN introduced infection present at time of surgery (PATOS) as a required data element for reporting surgical site infections (SSIs). PATOS is the documented observation that infection was visualized during the operative procedure and at the same tissue level of subsequent SSI. PATOS SSIs are excluded from CDC calculations of SSI summary measures, the standardized infection ratios (SIRs), including the SSI SIRs used by CMS public reporting and payment programs. The characteristics of PATOS SSIs have not been assessed since its introduction, prompting interest in the review of these SSIs. This study describes PATOS SSI surveillance for 2015–2018, with specific focus on infections following colon surgery (COLO), the NHSN operative procedure category with highest reported incidence of PATOS. Methods: We analyzed all procedures and SSIs reported to the NHSN. Using measures of frequency, we quantified the proportion of SSI and PATOS SSI attributed to all procedures and to COLO specifically. The mid-p method was used for proportion comparison. Procedure and SSI data were described by year and characteristics. Results: Between 2015 and 2018, 12,046,033 procedures and 188,770 SSIs (2%) were reported. Of these SSIs, 22,096 (12%) were PATOS SSIs (Fig. 1). COLO accounted for 11% of all procedures reported, for a total of 1,328,852 procedures with 72,891 (5%) resulting in SSI. COLO accounted for 64% of PATOS SSIs. The proportion of SSIs reported as PATOS SSIs resulting from COLO increased from 18% in 2015 to 22% by 2018 (Fig. 2). The proportion of COLO PATOS SSIs was statistically different from the proportion of PATOS SSIs for all other procedures each year (P < .0001). Organ-space (OS) SSIs accounted for 76% of COLO PATOS SSIs (10,558 of 13,911), and most of these SSIs were SSI intra-abdominal infections (IABs) (91%). The proportion of COLO PATOS SSI superficial incisional primary (SIP) was statistically different from non-COLO PATOS SSI SIP (P = .0105) (Fig. 2). Of COLOs linked to PATOS SSIs, 53% were assigned dirty or infected wound classification. Conclusions: The increase in PATOS SSIs linked to COLO procedures underscores the importance of monitoring PATOS SSIs at the facility level. Focused validation of PATOS data is needed to identify reasons for this increase, which may include misapplication or misunderstanding of PATOS determinations. Validation may highlight the potential need for prevention strategies or interventions related to PATOS.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None