1833. Evaluating the Impact of Reported Beta-Lactam Allergies on Clinical Outcomes in Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Abstract

Abstract Background Approximately 15% of hospitalized patients are labeled as beta-lactam (BL) allergic. Despite this, it is estimated that > 90% of patients do not have clinically significant hypersensitivity reactions and are BL-tolerant. The BL allergy label is associated with a host of downstream consequences, including receipt of suboptimal antibiotic therapy, healthcare-associated infections, and bacterial resistance. There are limited data investigating the impact of this allergy label on clinical outcomes in bloodstream infections caused by Gram-negative pathogens (GN-BSI). Methods This was a retrospective, single center, cohort study evaluating the impact of BL allergies on clinical outcomes in patients with GN-BSI from January 2017 to August 2021. Adult inpatients with index blood cultures positive for Pseudomonas species or Enterobacterales who received intravenous antibiotics with Gram-negative activity were included. The primary endpoint was time to effective therapy (defined as treatment with in vitro activity against a causative pathogen, as determined by phenotypic susceptibilities) and the key secondary endpoint was 30-day all-cause mortality. Results Overall, 120 patients were included, representing 30 BL-allergic (BL-A) and 90 BL-non-allergic (BL-NA) patients. Blood cultures positive for Pseudomonas species or Enterobacterales were evenly distributed (Table 1). Among Enterobacterales, Escherichia coli was implicated in 25% of cases overall. The most common source of infection was intra-abdominal infection. Across groups, median quick Pitt Bacteremia Score was 1 (IQR 0-2). Infectious Diseases was consulted in 37% of BL-A patients vs. 29% of BL-NA patients. Of BL allergies reported, 86% were classified as likely immunoglobulin E (IgE) mediated reactions. Allergy was not consulted in any of these cases. Median time to effective therapy was 162 minutes (IQR 20-824 minutes) vs. 103 minutes (IQR 27-775 minutes) in the BL-A and BL-NA groups, respectively. Thirty-day mortality occurred in 31% of BL-A and 21% of BL-NA patients. Conclusion Increased time to effective therapy and mortality rates were observed among patients with reported BL allergies. These findings highlight the importance of allergy clarification in antibiotic stewardship. Disclosures Kathleen Degnan, MD, Gilead: Grant/Research Support.