2045. GAIN (Generating Antimicrobial Stewardship Initiatives in Chicago Skilled Nursing Facilities) Collaborative Survey Results: CDC Core Elements of Antimicrobial Stewardship Compliance Assessment in 27 Chicago Skilled Nursing Facilities

BACKGROUND: Antimicrobial Stewardship Programs (ASPs) in long-term care facilities is a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services requirement as of 2017. The CDC recommends that ASPs in skilled nursing facilities (SNFs) fulfill 7 Core Elements: leadership commitment, accountability, drug expertise, action, tracking, reporting and education. METHODS: An electronic survey utilizing REDCap was sent to the 76 Chicago SNFs representatives (Administrator, Director of Nursing, and/or Assistant Director of Nursing). Survey questions were adopted from the CDC Core Elements of Antimicrobial Stewardship for Nursing Homes Checklist. RESULTS: Twenty-seven (36%) of Chicago SNFs responded. Bed size ranged from 36 – 307 (median 150). Although 93% of facilities had a written statement of leadership support for antimicrobial stewardship, only 22% cited any budgeted financial support for antimicrobial stewardship activities. While Pharmacist Consultants visited all SNFs (most visiting monthly), only 33% of SNFs had an Infectious Disease Provider that consulted on-site. Dedicated time for antimicrobial stewardship activities was less than 10 hours per week in 78% of facilities, with half of all respondents reporting less than 5 hours per week. Treatment guidelines were in place for 63% of SNFs, 56% had an antibiogram, and only 7% utilized the Loeb criteria to guide appropriate antibiotic prescribing. Many facilities tracked antimicrobial stewardship metrics (93%) and reported out to staff (70%). Annual nursing training on antimicrobial stewardship occurs more frequently (85%) than prescriber education (56%). The top 3 barriers identified in implementing ASPs were financial limitations (33%), lack of clinical expertise (33%), and provider opposition (30%). Facilities’ compliance in all seven core elements varied from partially compliant (65%), majority compliant (19%), and majority non-compliant (16%). CONCLUSION: Data from this baseline survey informed focused antimicrobial stewardship initiatives for the GAIN Collaborative. Targeted areas to incorporate into facility action plans include treatment guideline development, antibiograms, annual staff antimicrobial stewardship education, and adoption of the Loeb minimum criteria for antibiotic prescribing into clinical practice. [Image: see text] [Image: see text] [Image: see text] [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.