Faculty Bibliography

BACKGROUND/UNASSIGNED: METHODS/UNASSIGNED:infections. The primary composite endpoint included escalation to intensive care unit, infection- or treatment-related readmission, mortality, and infection recurrence. Outcomes were compared between groups who received carbapenem (CG) versus carbapenem-sparing agents (CSG) as targeted gram-negative therapy. RESULTS/UNASSIGNED:= .001), while treatment with carbapenem-sparing therapy was not. CONCLUSIONS/UNASSIGNED:Our study did not find improved clinical outcomes with targeted carbapenem therapy for TZP-NS/CRO-S infections. Carbapenem-sparing agents may be considered to spare carbapenems in noncritically ill patients similar to those included in our cohort.

Background. Candidemia is a common hospital acquired infection that is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The optimal strategy for diagnosis remains unknown. Methods. We evaluated 2 distinct diagnostic strategies in hospitalized patients with suspicion of Candida bloodstream infection, namely strategy #1 that included simultaneous blood cultures and T2Candida and strategy #2 that included blood cultures, T2Candida testing and Beta-D-glucan (BDG). We examined the consistency with which each diagnostic algorithm led to changes in antifungal prescribing, the overall rate of antifungal utilization and patients' clinical outcomes. Flow Chart. Results. Among 96 patients tested with strategy #1, 3 had a positive result. Of those 100% completed a 14-day antifungal course for candidemia or were on antifungals until hospital discharge. Of the 29 out 120 patients that tested positive with strategy #2, 55.2% received a complete 14-day course or were on antifungals until hospital discharge. The percentage of completed treatment increased to 75.0% and 80.0% when the threshold for BDG positivity was increased at 200 pg/ml and 500 pg/ml respectively. We observed a significant difference in the overall antifungal utilization with 268.5 days of antifungals per 1,000 patient days for strategy #1, as opposed to 371.9 days of antifungals for strategy #2, a 38.5% increase. Negative tests at both diagnostic strategies led to a similar rate of antifungal discontinuation 3 days after testing (36.8% and 37.0% for strategy #1 and #2 respectively). We did not find significant benefits in death and/or subsequent diagnosis of candidemia between the 2 diagnostic strategies. Sensitivity analyses performed based on indication for testing and severity of illness did not significantly alter results. Conclusion. In summary, the addition of BDG in diagnostic algorithms for candidemia was interpreted variably by clinicians, was associated with a significant increase in antifungal utilization, and it did not appear to lead to measured clinical benefits for patients. Diagnostic strategies of common and serious infections that incorporate non-culture diagnostics need to be evaluated for added benefit. (Figure Presented)

Background/UNASSIGNED:Limited data support use of pneumococcal urinary antigen testing (PUAT) for patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) as an antimicrobial stewardship tool. At our institution, CAP guidelines and admission order set were standardized to include universal PUAT. Methods/UNASSIGNED:This was a retrospective study of adults hospitalized in 2019 who had PUAT performed. We compared incidence and timing of de-escalation in PUAT- positive vs -negative groups and described patients' outcomes. Results/UNASSIGNED:, in-hospital mortality, or 30-day infection-related readmission. Conclusions/UNASSIGNED:We observed earlier de-escalation in the PUAT-positive group. This seems to be due to discontinuation of atypical rather than anti-MRSA or antipseudomonal coverage. Further antimicrobial stewardship interventions are warranted.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE/OBJECTIVE:Nationwide shortages of small-volume parenteral solutions (SVPS) compelled hospitals to develop strategies including the use of intravenous push (IVP) administration of antibiotics to reserve SVPS for absolute necessities. It is unknown if administration of beta-lactam antibiotics (BL) via IVP results in worse clinical outcomes compared to intravenous piggyback (IVPB) due to the potential inability to achieve pharmacodynamic targets. METHODS:Our health-system implemented a mandatory IVP action plan for BL from October 2017 to September 2018. This was a retrospective study of adult patients with GNB who received empiric therapy with IVPB (30 minutes) or IVP (5 minutes) cefepime (FEP) or meropenem (MEM) for at least 2 days. Endpoints included clinical response, microbiological clearance and mortality. All data are presented as n (%) or median (interquartile range). RESULTS:The final cohort included 213 patients (IVPB n = 105, IVP n = 108). The primary source of bacteremia was urinary, with Escherichia coli being the primary pathogen. Escalation of therapy was similar between groups (15 [14%] vs 11 [10%], P = .36) at a median of 3 days (P = .68). No significant differences were observed in any secondary endpoints including microbiological clearance, bacteremia recurrence, time to defervescence, WBC normalization, vasopressor duration or in-hospital mortality. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION/CONCLUSIONS:Our findings suggest no differences in clinical response with the use of IVP compared to IVPB FEP and MEM for treatment of GNB. This form of administration may be considered as a fluid conservation strategy in times of shortage.

Cutibacterium acnes is an anaerobic bacterium commonly thought of as a culture contaminant rather than a pathogen. We present a case of Cutibacterium acnes pericarditis in a 22-year-old immunocompetent woman managed with surgical pericardial window and a 4-week course of penicillin G and review related literature on Cutibacterium acnes pericarditis.

As New York became the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic early on, clinicians were challenged to provide optimal medical and pharmaceutical care, despite the paucity of supporting literature and guidance. We sought to describe prescribing patterns and outcomes of physician response to the urgent need to treat COVID-19 patients before initiation of randomized clinical trials.

The additive role of non-culture-based methods for the diagnosis of candidemia remains unknown. We evaluated 2 clinical practices followed in our hospitals for the diagnosis of candidemia, namely practice#1 including a combination of blood cultures and T2Candida, and practice#2 that also included Beta-D-glucan (BDG). Three out of 96 patients testing positive with practice#1 received a complete antifungal course. Of the 120 patients evaluated with practice#2, 29 were positive. Only 55.2% of those received a complete course. We observed significant differences in antifungal utilization, with 268.5 antifungal days/1000 patient-days for practice#1, as opposed to 371.9 days for practice#2, a nearly 40% difference. However, we found similar rates of antifungal discontinuation among negative patients at 3 days of testing (36.8% and 37.0% respectively). No differences were detected in death and/or subsequent diagnosis of candidemia. In summary, addition of BDG was interpreted variably by clinicians, was associated with an increase in antifungal utilization, and did not correlate with measurable clinical benefits for patients.

PURPOSE:A critical shortage of small-volume parenteral solutions in late 2017 led hospitals to develop strategies to ensure availability for critical patients, including administration of antibiotics as intravenous push (IVP). Minimal literature has been published to date that assesses the safety of administration of beta-lactams via this route. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the safety of IVP administration of select beta-lactam antibiotics. METHODS:We performed a retrospective review of IVP administrations of aztreonam, ceftriaxone, cefepime, and meropenem at two campuses of the New York University Langone Health system after October 2017. Patients receiving surgical prophylaxis or more than one IVP antibiotic simultaneously were excluded. The primary endpoint was adverse events (ADE) following IVP administration of antibiotics. RESULTS:We evaluated 1000 patients who received IVP aztreonam (n = 43), ceftriaxone (n = 544), cefepime (n = 368) or meropenem (n = 45). There were 10 (1%) ADE observed, 5 of which were allergic reactions. Four ADE were neurotoxicity related to IVP cefepime. Based on the Naranjo score, 1 adverse event was "probably" and 3 were "possibly" related to cefepime IVP administration. Lastly, only 1 report of phlebitis was observed with the use of IVP ceftriaxone. CONCLUSIONS:The use of IVP as an alternative to intravenous piggyback (IVPB) during times of drug shortage for select beta-lactam antibiotics appears to be safe, and ADE are similar to those previously described for IVPB administration. Future studies evaluating clinical outcomes between IVP and IVPB administration may be of benefit.