2463. Increased Rates of Candida Bloodstream Infections Associated with Drug Use, United States 2012–2017

Abstract

BackgroundOpioid misuse is epidemic in the United States (US), and persons who inject drugs are at increased risk for serious bacterial and fungal infections, including Candida bloodstream infections. Historically, candidemia has occurred almost exclusively among patients with severe underlying illness and extensive healthcare exposure. We examined whether the opioid crisis may be having an impact on the epidemiology of candidemia in the United States.MethodsUsing data from 200 US hospitals reporting to the Premier Healthcare Database (PHD) between 2012–2017, we conducted a retrospective study among hospitalized persons ≥ 18 years. Candidemia was defined by any blood culture yielding Candida species. Drug use-associated (DUA)-candidemia hospitalizations were defined as hospitalizations having both candidemia and at least one ICD-9-CM or ICD-10-CM diagnostic code for recreational drug use; drugs were classified as opioids, cocaine, amphetamines, or other drugs (excluding cannabis, alcohol, and nicotine). We described the characteristics and annual trends of candidemia hospitalizations, stratified by drug use.ResultsOf 7,590 candidemia hospitalizations during 2012–2017, 679 (9%) were DUA-candidemia. During this time, the rate of DUA-candidemia increased from 3.6 to 9.1 per 100,000 hospitalizations, while the rate of non-DUA-candidemia decreased from 64.7 to 55.6 per 100,000 hospitalizations. Patients with DUA-candidemia were younger (median 40 vs. 64 years), had a longer lengths of stay (median 14 vs. 13 days), and had lower in-hospital mortality (12% vs. 26%). Among DUA-candidemia hospitalizations, opioids accounted for 78% of substances identified. Among patients aged 18–44 years, the proportion of candidemia hospitalizations associated with drug use more than tripled from 13% in 2012 to 44% in 2017 (Figure 1).ConclusionDUA-candidemia hospitalizations increased almost 3-fold during 2012–2017, with drug use identified in nearly half of candidemia patients ages 18–44 years in 2017. These data suggest that the opioid crisis is having an impact on the epidemiology of candidemia in the United States, especially among young adults, underscoring an additional negative consequence of the ongoing crisis. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.