1979. Five-Year Impact of an Antimicrobial Stewardship Program on Nosocomial Candidemia: An Interrupted Time-Series Analysis Study

Abstract

BackgroundAntimicrobial stewardship programs allow a reduction in antibiotic prescription and, consequently, in the incidence of multidrug-resistance infections. However, the impact on nosocomial candidemia is still unclear.MethodsThe present study is an interrupted time-series (ITS) before-after study, based on an ecological time-trend analysis. Since 2014, an antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) has been implemented at an Italian tertiary-care hospital. The first objective of the program was to reduce carbapenem consumption, through an active and computerized surveillance of all carbapenem prescriptions, each of which was checked and validated by ID specialists always after audit of the cases with treating physicians. We retrospectively evaluated the changing in the consumption of antimicrobials, carbapenems, and in the incidence of candidemia, during two study periods: before (2007–2013) and after (2014–2018) the implementation of the ASP.ResultsThe implementation of ASP was followed by a significant decrease in antibiotic consumption, which was consistent through the following 5 years. At the end of the study, total antibiotic consumption has decreased by 38.476 DDDs per 100 patient-days (PDs) per quarter (95% CI: −21.784 to −55.168; P < 0.001) and carbapenems decreased by 4.452 DDD per 100 PDs per quarter (95% CI: −3.658 to −5.246; P = 0.001). After 5 years of ASP, incidence of candidemia decreased by 2.034 episodes per 1,000 PDs per quarter (95% CI: −0.738 to −3.330; P = 0.003), decreasing, at the end of 2018, by 53% compared with the expected value if the program had not been implemented.ConclusionAt our Institution, the ASP had a positive impact on the consumption of carbapenems, and antimicrobials. The incidence of candidemia was also favorably affected by the program, reversing the trend after 2014. The ASP, even if not directly targeted to fungal infections, indirectly caused a reduction in the incidence of candidemia, probably reducing the number of patients colonized by Candida spp.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.