2371. A Multicenter Cohort Study of the Natural History of Clostridioides difficile Colonization and Infection

BACKGROUND: Asymptomatic carriage of toxigenic Clostridioides difficile strains is common in healthcare settings. However, the natural history of C. difficile colonization and infection is not well understood, particularly for patients with new acquisition of carriage. METHODS: In 3 tertiary care hospitals and affiliated long-term care facilities (LTCFs), we conducted a 6-month cohort study to identify patients with new acquisition of rectal carriage of toxigenic C. difficile and determined the duration and burden of carriage. Asymptomatic carriage was defined as transient if only 1 culture was positive with negative cultures before and after or persistent if 2 or more cultures were positive; clearance was defined as 2 consecutive negative rectal cultures. RESULTS: Of 4180 patients with negative initial cultures, 144 (3%) acquired asymptomatic carriage of toxigenic C. difficile, and 19 (13%) of these carriers subsequently were diagnosed with CDI. Of 50 asymptomatic carriers analyzed for duration of carriage, 33 (66%) had transient carriage of toxigenic C. difficile and 17 (34%) had persistent carriage. For persistent carriers, the estimated median time to clearance of colonization was 76 days (range, 41 to 95 days from acquisition). Ten of 17 (59%) persistent carriers had a high burden of carriage (defined as > 25 colonies recovered from 1 or more swabs) vs. only 1 of 33 (3%) transient carriers (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Acquisition of asymptomatic carriage of toxigenic C. difficile carriage was common among patients in healthcare facilities, but most carriers had transient low-level carriage. Additional studies are needed to determine whether a higher burden of carriage predicts subsequent risk of transmission. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.