2130. Detection of Carbapenemase-Producing Organisms and Impact on Antimicrobial Utilization for Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) Infections

BACKGROUND: CREs are feared pathogens with resistance occurring through the production of carbapenemases. Identification of carbapenemase-producing (CP) organisms assists with proper antimicrobial selection of commonly used agents, such as ceftazidime/avibactam (CA), meropenem/vaborbactam (MV), and tigecycline (TG). AdventHealth Orlando implemented a CRE screening method based on meropenem (MER) and a confirmatory CRE PCR testing in March 2018. Prior to implementing this test, patients were deemed to have CRE infections (CREI) if the organism demonstrated resistance to any carbapenem. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of this testing on the utilization of anti-CRE antibiotics. METHODS: This was a retrospective pre (March 2017–February 2018)- and post (March 2018–February 2019)-implementation study examining the impact of CRE PCR testing. Outcomes included the number of antibiotic days saved, average duration of therapy (DOT), median length of stay (LOS), and change in CP-CRE prevalence. The intervention consisted of the implementation of CRE PCR testing and included inpatients > 18 years old who received either CA, MV, or TG for the treatment of a CREI. RESULTS: Post-implementation, 30 unique patients were identified as having a positive K. pneumoniae carbapenemase gene by PCR, indicating a CP-CRE and received CA, MV, or TG; whereas, 42 patients in the pre-implementation group had a CREI and received CA, MV, or TG. Testing to identify CP-CREs led to a 50% reduction in the number of antibiotic days for CA, MV, and TG (575 vs. 287 days, P < 0.0001). Additionally, the average DOT decreased by 2.5 days in the post-implementation group (10.5 days vs. 8 days, P = 0.18) along with a 3.5-day shorter median LOS (15 days vs. 11.5 days, P = 0.48). The CRE prevalence based on resistance only to MER is 0.27%, compared with the previously reported rate of 2.5% that included resistance to ertapenem or MER. CONCLUSION: Implementing CRE PCR testing to identify CP-CRE organisms resulted in a significant reduction in utilization of anti-CRE agents for CREIs. Additionally, the testing algorithm allowed for accurate reporting of our local CRE prevalence. By avoiding CA, MV, or TG in patients without CP-CREs, this has the potential to optimize therapy while reducing collateral damage associated with broad-spectrum agents. DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.