436. Skin and Soft-tissue Infections Are a Common Reason for Potentially Inappropriate Antimicrobial Use among Inpatients in Sri Lanka

BACKGROUND: Skin and soft-tissue infections (SSTI) are a common reason for antimicrobial use in the outpatient and inpatient settings. Inappropriate antimicrobial use for SSTI is common. We determined the prevalence of SSTI and associated inappropriate antimicrobial use among inpatients in Sri Lanka. METHODS: A point-prevalence study of antimicrobial use was conducted using one-day cross-sectional surveys at five public hospitals in Southern Province, Sri Lanka from Jun-August 2017. Inpatients’ medical records were reviewed for clinical data including antimicrobials prescribed. Inappropriate antimicrobial use was identified as (1) antimicrobial use discordant with guidelines by the Sri Lanka College of Microbiologists (SLCM), and (2) redundant combinations of antimicrobials. RESULTS: Of 1,709 surveyed patients, 935 (54.7%) received antimicrobials, of whom 779 (83.3%) had a specified or inferred indication for antimicrobial use. Among patients with an indication for antimicrobial use, SSTI was the second leading indication (181 patients, 23.2%) after lower respiratory tract infection (194, 24.9%). One-third (62, 34.2%) of patients with SSTI had a history of diabetes. Commonly used antimicrobials for SSTI included amoxicillin and clavulanic acid (40.3%), extended-spectrum penicillins (24.9%), and metronidazole (22.1%). inappropriate antimicrobial use was observed in 53.0% of SSTI patients, with redundant antibiotic therapy in 35.9% and antimicrobials discordant with SLCM guidelines in 32.6%. CONCLUSION: SSTI was a common reason for antimicrobial use among inpatients in Sri Lanka, with more than half of patients receiving potentially inappropriate antimicrobial therapy. We identified targets for future antimicrobial stewardship efforts. [Image: see text] [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.