915. Implementation of Face-to-Face Antimicrobial Stewardship Rounding at a Veterans Affairs Hospital

Abstract

Abstract Background The Veterans Affairs Central California Healthcare System (VACCHCS) antimicrobial stewardship program primarily utilizes prospective audit-feedback. Initially, antimicrobial recommendations were communicated to medicine and surgery teams exclusively through chart notes. Beginning September 2021, a new process was initiated whereby all antibiotic recommendations were communicated to care teams during daily face-to-face rounds. This pre-post cohort study is an assessment of the changes in antimicrobial use, inpatient mortality and 30-day readmissions that occurred with the intervention. Methods Both pre- and post- intervention, all admitted patients with active antibiotic orders were reviewed for antibiotic optimization by an ID team and a chart note was written to document recommendations. Post-intervention, recommendations were communicated via daily face-to-face rounds with medicine and surgery services. Total antibiotic use was collected from the National Healthcare Safety Network’s Antimicrobial Use and Resistance (NHSN-AUR) Module as antibiotic days-of-therapy per 1000 patient days (DOT/1000). Monthly in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission data were collected from the VA’s Corporate Data Warehouse. Median monthly amounts of each measure were compared pre- and post-intervention. Antibiotic use was compared monthly for 2 years prior and 3 months post intervention, whereas mortality and readmission outcomes included 2 years prior and 6 months post-intervention. Results Pre and post-intervention median monthly antibiotic use was 728 and 741 DOT/1000, respectively. Median monthly mortality was seven deaths pre-intervention and six post-intervention. Median monthly 30-day readmissions were 48 pre-intervention and 36 post-intervention. Conclusion Total antibiotic use slightly increased after the intervention. Further post-intervention observation is needed in order to better characterize impact on antimicrobial use. Monthly in-hospital mortality and 30-day readmission data were decreasing prior to our intervention and continued to decrease post-intervention. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.