1639. Outbreak of Human Bartonellosis Due to Bartonella bacilliformis in the Ecuadorian Andes

BACKGROUND: Bartonellosis affects small Andean communities in Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. Research in this area has been limited; our study presents a continuous outbreak of cases that occurred in 2018 in areas near the cloud forest of the Ecuadorian Andes. METHODS: Retrospective review of 101 cases of human bartonellosis managed in Quito - Ecuador, during the last outbreak in our country in the last year (2018). The study focused upon the most recent outbreak in order to look at current manifestations of disease and existing practices in diagnosis and management, and how closely these followed the latest guidelines to manage this disease. RESULTS: Of the 101 patients reviewed, 52% were male and 48% were female. The mean age of cases was 24.3 years, (mean age of males = 23.7, mean age females = 25.3). The median age of patients was 20 years (min = 4 years, max = 71 years, IQR = 15). There was a peak in acute cases after the rainy season; mainly in moths march to June, chronic cases presented less constantly throughout the year. The sensitivity of blood smear against blood culture in acute disease was 35%. The most commonly used treatment for chronic disease was rifampicin; chloramphenicol and ciprofloxacin was used to treat most acute cases. Complications arose in 16.8% and the most frequent was anemia, and there were 2 deaths. CONCLUSION: Recognize the physiopathological and microbiological characteristics of the disease, as well as improve the diagnostic and treatment algorithms for acute and chronic bartonellosis which have been developed without a strong evidence base. Preparation of ready-to-go operational research projects for future outbreaks would strengthen the evidence base for diagnostic and treatment strategies and enhance opportunities for control and prevent deaths. [Image: see text] [Image: see text] [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.