2311. Bacteremia Is Not Commonly Detected in Ebola Virus Disease

BACKGROUND: Rates of bacteremia in Ebola virus disease (EVD) are not currently known. Given the potential for secondary bacterial infection during acute EVD, current treatment guidelines recommend empiric use of broad-spectrum antibiotics. We sought to determine rates of bacteremia among patients evaluated for EVD at the ELWA-3 Ebola Treatment Unit in Monrovia, Liberia during the 2013–16 West Africa epidemic. METHODS: Deidentified blood samples and matched clinical data from 235 Ebola virus (EBOV)-positive patients and 102 EBOV-negative patients were evaluated under a University of Liberia Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation IRB-approved protocol. 0.2 mL aliquots of frozen whole blood samples collected at triage, prior to the administration of antibiotics, were inoculated into BD BACTEC Peds Plus bottles and incubated under aerobic conditions in a BD BACTEC FX40 for 5 days in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease Biosafety Level 4 laboratory in Hamilton, MT. Positive samples were sub-cultured on nonselective sheep blood agar and chocolate agar and pure colonies were selected for identification by 16S sequencing and by matrix assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. RESULTS: No difference in rates of bacteremia was detected among EBOV-positive vs. EBOV-negative patients – 3.8% and 3.9%, respectively. Predominant isolates included Staphylococcus epidermidis and other coagulase-negative staphylococci, thought consistent with contaminants. Pathogenic species included Staphylococcus aureus and possibly Paenibacillus spp. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that bacteremia does not commonly complicate EVD. However, as both prolonged sample storage and low culture volume may negatively affect sensitivity, additional molecular analyses are needed to support this conclusion. The Intramural Research Program of the National Institutes of Health supported this work. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.