167. Deep Space Infections in Injection Drug Users (IDU)

Abstract

BackgroundThe opioid epidemic in the US has increased attention to infectious complications of injection drug use (IDU). The goal of our study was to ascertain the impact of these infections on the health of our community and institutional burden considering that our institution does not discharge patients with IDU for outpatient IV antibiotic treatments due to lack of safe environment and compliance concerns.MethodsThis retrospective study reviewed IDU-associated deep space infections in an 1100 -bed medical center from 2010 through 2014. Pathogens, site of infection, mortality rates and, length of stay (LOS), 3- month readmission (inpatient + observation), leaving against medical advice (AMA) rates for those alive at discharge, were evaluated. ICD-9/10 coding identified admissions related to opioid use and deep infections (endocarditis, diskitis/osteomyelitis, sepsis/bacteremia, empyema). Only the most severe infection was counted for each patient. Charts were reviewed to determine whether IDU was associated with the entree infections.ResultsA total of 505 patients met criteria for deep space infections associated with IDU over 5 years. Of those, 305 (60%) were male, 146 (29%) black, 335 (66%) white, 271 (54%) were on Medicaid, 246 (49%) had sepsis/bacteremia, 67 (13%) had endocarditis,143 (28%) discitis/osteomyelitis, 22 (4%) empyema and 27 (5%) other. Mean age was 46 ± 12 years. LOS varied by disease state. The overall median was 10 days, from 8 days for bacteremia/sepsis up to 27 for endocarditis. There were 43 (9%) hospital deaths; 30 (6%) patients left AMA and 209 (45%) patients were readmitted within 3 months.ConclusionDeep space infections in IDU patients result in long LOS, high mortality and high rates of readmissions and departures AMA. Improved algorithms for management that include psychosocial models and incorporate cost-effective and safe antibiotic administration need to be developed.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.