1523. Clinical Epidemiology of Children with Orbital Cellulitis

BACKGROUND: The microbiology of pathogens causing orbital cellulitis in children is evolving over time, with studies from around 10 years ago describing MRSA as responsible for anywhere from 0 to 13% of cases of orbital cellulitis. However, the prevalence of community-acquired MRSA infections has declined over the past decade. A current understanding of the bacteria most commonly found to be responsible for orbital cellulitis would be important to inform the empiric antibiotic regimens for cases of orbital cellulitis in which no microbiologic data are available. METHODS: This is a single-center retrospective cohort study of children ≤18 years hospitalized with orbital cellulitis at Children’s National Medical Center between January 1, 2017 and July 31, 2018. We excluded children with immunocompromising conditions, cystic fibrosis, underlying craniofacial abnormality, or recent craniofacial or otolaryngologic surgery. Baseline clinical characteristics, microbiologic data, clinical outcomes, and antibiotic treatment data were abstracted through structured chart review and summarized with descriptive statistics. RESULTS: We identified 68 children that met inclusion criteria, with an average age of 8.2 years; 66.2% were male, 48.5% were African American, and 14.7% were Hispanic. Most (67.6%) had no underlying medical problems, 14.7% had asthma, and 22.1% had allergic rhinitis. The median duration of symptoms prior to presentation was 4 days. An abscess or phlegmon was identified in 41 of the 68 (60.3%). Three patients (4.4%) developed intracranial complications. About one-quarter (27.9%) of all patients in the cohort underwent surgical drainage. The most commonly identified pathogens were viridans group streptococci (7/19, 36.8%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (4/19, 21.1%). Anti-MRSA therapy was provided empirically in almost all (95.6%) of patients. CONCLUSION: One-quarter of all patients hospitalized for orbital cellulitis underwent surgical drainage, and viridans group streptococci and S. aureus were the most commonly isolated pathogens. While MRSA was isolated in only one patient (5.2%), almost all received empiric anti-MRSA therapy. [Image: see text] [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.