1224. The incidence of severe C. striatum hospital-acquired pneumonia sharply increased and was associated with a high mortality rate

BACKGROUND: The clinical information on patients with severe C. striatum pneumonia who require intensive care unit admission is currently limited. METHODS: We investigated the incidence and characteristics of severe Corynebacterium striatum pneumonia during a 6-year period at Asan Medical Center in comparison with severe pneumonia associated with MRSA. RESULTS: Between 2014 and 2019, there were 27 adult cases of severe C. striatum pneumonia. The majority of the cases (70.4%) were hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and about half of the patients (51.9%) were immunocompromised. The incidence of C. striatum HAP significantly increased from 1.0% (2/200) in 2014-2015 to 5.4% (10/185) in 2018-2019 (P < 0.001), while the incidence of severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) HAP significantly decreased from 12.0% to 2.7% during the same period. Of the 75 HAP cases whose bacterial pathogens were identified in 2018–2019, C. striatum was responsible for 13.3% of the cases. The 90-day mortality rates were similarly high in the C. striatum and MRSA groups (59.3% vs. 50.5%, P = 0.42). [Figure: see text] [Figure: see text] [Figure: see text] CONCLUSION: In conclusion, C. striatum was a major pathogen of recent severe HAP and was associated with a substantially high mortality rate. DISCLOSURES: All Authors: No reported disclosures.