2734. Evaluation of Empiric Antimicrobial Therapy for End-Stage Liver Disease Patients at an Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Abstract Background Patients with end-stage liver disease (ESLD) are prone to decompensation secondary to infections, with an increasing prevalence of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). These patients often receive broad-spectrum antimicrobials prior to transplant, pre-disposing them to resistant pathogens. Our study assessed institutional guideline adherence, antimicrobial prescribing, and the incidence of MDROs in this population. Methods This IRB-approved, retrospective chart review included pre-transplant inpatients with ESLD on the adult liver transplant service who received antimicrobials between 1/1/20 and 10/30/20. Patients were excluded if they started antimicrobials post-transplant or transferred from another institution on parenteral antimicrobials. Per institutional guidelines for empiric antimicrobials in suspected infection in ESLD, patients were categorized into three infectious risk categories: Floor/Non-High-Risk (F-NHR), Floor/High-Risk (F-HR), and ICU or MELD greater than 35 (ICU/M35). Antimicrobial prescribing in each group was evaluated for guideline adherence and microbiology data. Results were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Results We included 92 patients: 28 F-NHR, 50 F-HR, and 14 ICU/M35. Table 1 summarizes baseline characteristics. The frequency of guideline adherence for the F-NHR, F-HR, ICU/M35 groups, respectively, was 11 (39%), 4 (8%), and 4 (29%) patients. For the F-NHR group, ceftriaxone (CRO) was most prescribed (n=17, 61%). For the F-HR group, 18 (36%) received CRO; 16 (32%) received vancomycin and piperacillin-tazobactam. In the ICU/M35 group, 13 patients (93%) received meropenem plus linezolid, and 11 (79%) also received caspofungin. No methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales were isolated. Two patients (14%) in the ICU/M35 group experienced C. difficile infection within 30 days of antimicrobial initiation.Table 1.Baseline characteristics among guideline cohorts Conclusion Our study showcases opportunities to optimize internal ESLD antimicrobial protocols and curtail unnecessary antimicrobial exposure. Study limitations include a small cohort at a single center. Future directions include data dissemination and protocol updates. Disclosures David Quan, PharmD, Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals: Advisor/Consultant Sarah B. Doernberg, MD, MAS, Basilea: Clinical events committee/adjudication committee participation|F2G: Grant/Research Support|Genentech: Advisor/Consultant|Gilead: Grant/Research Support|Janssen/J+J: Advisor/Consultant|Pfizer: Grant/Research Support|Regeneron: Grant/Research Support|Shinogi: Clinical events committee/adjudication committee participation