208. Comparison of Bloodstream Infections in Hospitalized Patients Before and During the COVID-19 Surge in a Community Hospital in the South Bronx: An Observational Study

Abstract Background There is a paucity of data of bloodstream infections (BSI) before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of our study was to compare the incidence and characteristics of blood stream infections (BSI) in hospitalized patients before and during the surge of COVID-19 pandemic in a community hospital in South Bronx. Methods This is a retrospective observational comparative study of adult hospitalized patients with BSI admitted before (Jan 1-Feb 28, 2020) and during COVID-19 surge (Mar 1- May 1,2020). The incidence of BSI, patient demographics, clinical and microbiological characteristics of infections including treatment and outcomes were compared. Results Of the 155 patients with BSI, 64 were before COVID and 91 were during the COVID surge (Table 1). Incidence of BSI was 5.84 before COVID and 6.57 during surge (p = 0.004). Majority of patients during COVID period had ARDS (39.6%), required mechanical ventilation (57%), inotropic support (46.2%), therapeutic anticoagulation (24.2%), proning (22%), rectal tube (28.6%), Tocilizumab (9.9%), and steroids (30.8%) in comparison to pre-COVID (Table 2). Days of antibiotic therapy prior to BSI was 5 days before COVID and 7 during COVID. Mortality was higher among patients with BSI admitted during COVID surge (41.8% vs. 14.1% p < 0.0001). Of 185 BSI events, 71 were Pre-COVID and 114 during surge. Primary BSI were predominant (72%) before COVID contrary to secondary BSI (46%) (CLABSI) during COVID. Time from admission to positive culture was 2.5 days during COVID compared to 0.9 pre-COVID. Majority of BSI during COVID period were monomicrobial (93%) and hospital acquired (50%) (p=0.001). Enterococcus (20.2%), E.coli (13.2%), and MSSA (12.3%) were predominant microbes causing BSI during COVID vs. MRSA (15.5%), Streptococci (15.5%), and S. pneumoniae (14.1%) before COVID (Figure 1). In multivariate logistic regression, Enterococcal coinfection was associated with COVID positivity (OR 2.685, p = 0.038), mechanical ventilation (OR 8.739, p = 0.002), and presence of COPD/Asthma (OR 2.823, p = 0.035). Comparison of Microorganisms Isolated in the BSI X-axis represents the total number of BSI events whereas the number at the end of each bar represents the percentage Conclusion Higher incidence of secondary BSI (CLABSI) due to Enterococcus spp. was observed during the surge of COVID-19 infection in the South Bronx. Breakdown of infection control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic could have been contributory. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures