225. Bloodstream Infections in Adult Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients with Acute Gastrointestinal Graft-vs. -Host Disease within the First 180 Days Post-Transplantation

Abstract

BackgroundInfections are the most common cause of non-relapse mortality in adult allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo SCT) recipients. Acute gastrointestinal graft-vs.-host disease (GI GVHD) often leads to friable mucosa and interventions increasing infectious risk. We describe the relationships between increasing grades of acute GI GVHD and incidence of bloodstream infections (BSI) at our institution.MethodsWe reviewed 441 adults who underwent allo SCT from 2011 to 2017 and were diagnosed with GI GVHD, non-GI GVHD, or no GVHD based on the Modified Glucksberg Scale within the first 100 days of transplant. The maximum grades of GI GVHD and non-GI GVHD were used in the analysis. A BSI episode constituted a blood culture positive for bacteria or fungi and antibiotic treatment. The incidence of BSI within the first 180 days of transplantation was estimated with the cumulative incidence method.ResultsOverall BSI incidence by day 180 was 32%; Gram-negative bacilli were the predominant organisms. Adjusting for grade of non-GI GVHD, patients with acute grade 4 GI GVHD had higher risk of BSI as compared with patients with no GI GVHD (HR 3.02, P < 0.001), while those with grade 3 GI GVHD had similar risk (HR 1.01, P = 0.98). Patients with grade 1 or 2 GI GVHD demonstrated lower BSI risk compared with those with no GI GVHD (HR 0.48, P = 0.015; HR 0.44, P = 0.08, respectively). Results were similar after adjusting for patient- and transplant-related risk factors for BSI. Grade of GI GVHD had no association with non-BSI risk. Patients who developed BSI or non-BSI had significantly higher overall mortality risk compared with those without infectious complications (HR 2.52, P < 0.001 for BSI; HR 1.60, P = 0.001 for non-BSI).ConclusionAcute grade 4 GI GVHD may reliably indicate higher BSI and overall mortality risk in this population. Understanding the relationships between acute GI GVHD and BSI can guide future treatment strategies for adult allo SCT recipients. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.