707. Hospital-Onset Clostridioides difficile Infection Rates During COVID-19 Pandemic in the ICU Patients

Abstract

BackgroundDue to COVID-19 gastrointestinal microbiome alterations, COVID-19 can be complicated by Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI). This retrospective cohort study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of Clostridium difficile infection in patients with COVID-19pneumoniaMethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted on PCR Covid-19 positive patients admitted in the ICU from September,2020 to 30th April 2021. All patients in the cohort study were on mechanical ventilation, or at some point during their ICU admission required mechanical ventilation. Hospital-onset (HO-CDI), defined as a positive C. difficile test over 3 days after admission.ResultsOverall, during the study period, a total of 240 PCR Covid-19 patients were admitted to the ICU; of these, 11 (4.5%) were COVID-19 CDI positive. Nine were males (81%). The mean hospital stay for these COVID-19 patients was 12 days (range 1–59 days). HO-CDI median day of identification was 12 days. All patients received ≥2 antibiotics and dexamethasone at admission. Compared to historical controls, COVID-19 patients did not have a higher overall CDI positive rate. However, mortality among COVID-19 HO-CDI patients was increased 7/11 (63%).ConclusionWhether COVID-19 itself increases an individual’s risk for CDI remains unclear. Multiple contributing factors drive CDI incidence, severity, and recurrence. Although protective measures such as gowns and gloves during COVID-19 increased, CDI cases in the hospital setting should continue to emphasize the importance of antimicrobial stewardship. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures