2445. Risk for Readmission and Mortality Amongst LTACH Residents with New-Onset Healthcare-Associated Infections

BACKGROUND: Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACH) provide cost-effective alternatives for stable patients requiring ICU-level care. LTACH patients are at increased risk for adverse outcomes including healthcare-associated infections (HAI). There is a paucity of data describing outcomes associated with HAIs in LTACH patients. METHODS: This was a single-center, retrospective study of LTACH patients over a 3 year period. Patients with an HAI (bloodstream [BSI], pneumonia [PNA], urinary tract [UTI], and Clostridioides difficile [CDI] infections) as defined by NHSN criteria were matched by length of stay (LOS) at the time of inclusion to unexposed patients. Follow-up was 30 days from the date of inclusion. The primary outcome was a composite of unplanned readmission to an acute care hospital or death at the LTACH. Secondary outcomes included all-cause mortality. Patients with HAIs were further evaluated to determine risk factors associated with readmission Antibiotics and cultured organisms were collected. Outcomes were analyzed using Cox proportional hazards model. Variables found to have a P < 0.1 on univariate analysis and those of clinical interest were included in the models. RESULTS: 250 patients were included, 125 in each group. The distribution of HAIs was 40 BSI, 39 UTI, 26 PNA, and 20 CDI. The incidence of the primary outcome and mortality were 26.0% and 11.6% respectively. HAI was associated with increased risk of the primary outcome, but the effect varied over time: Risk increased seven-fold during the first 5 days (HR, 7.47 [95% CI, 2.86–19.42]) but was smaller and non-significant after day five (HR, 1.94 [95% CI, 0.85–4.43]). Mortality was not significantly different between groups (HR, 1.58 [95% CI, 0.74–3.38]). After adjustment, only hypotension (HR, 2.27 [95% CI 1.21–4.27]) and referral hospital LOS > 28 days (HR, 1.97 [95% CI 1.10–3.53]) were associated with readmission. 37% of cultured organisms were multi-drug-resistant. 17% of Enterobacteriaceae were carbapenem resistant. Empiric antibiotics failed to cover in 35% of infections. CONCLUSION: HAI was associated with a significant increase in risk of readmission. Exploration of modifiable variables of infection, including hypotension and antibiotic selection, may help to reduce rates of readmission. [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.