1078. Expectations and Attitudes Toward Antimicrobial Stewardship Among Cystic Fibrosis Care Providers

Abstract

BackgroundTreatment of cystic fibrosis (CF) exacerbations can be challenging secondary to antimicrobial resistance due to chronic airway infection, multiple treatment courses, and frequent use of suppressive antibiotics. For these reasons, many antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) principles may not be practical for the CF population. The objective of this study was to determine perceptions of AMS among CF healthcare providers internationally.MethodsSix questions regarding AMS were incorporated into an email survey focusing on antimicrobial resistance in CF. Healthcare providers (HCP) were identified through list-servs and CF-related organizations internationally.ResultsThree-hundred and seventy-eight HCP from 30 countries responded to the survey (see Figure 1). Within their institutions, more than half had access to a CF-specific pharmacist, infectious disease consultation, and/or written CF exacerbation guidelines. An AMS program was only available for 39% of respondents. Most HCP stated that choosing and dosing antibiotics correctly and minimizing resistance were the main goals of AMS. Stewardship activities they felt would be helpful during CF exacerbations included the following: choice of antibiotics (83%), duration of antibiotics (78%), antibiotic dosing (68%), therapeutic drug monitoring (63%), reducing drug interactions (53%), and avoiding toxicity (50%). Nine percent of HCP stated that they did not think AMS was advantageous during exacerbations.ConclusionAlthough most CF HCP have access to individual aspects of AMS, fewer had access to a formal AMS program. Help with antibiotics during exacerbations was identified as an important aspect for input from AMS programs. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.