OBJECTIVE The pharmacokinetics of beta-lactam antibiotics favor administration via an extended infusion. Although literature supporting extended infusion beta-lactams exists in adults, few data are available to guide the practice in pediatrics. The purpose of this study was to compare clinical outcomes between extended and standard infusions in children. METHODS This retrospective chart analysis included hospitalized patients 0 to 18 years old who received at least 72 hours of cefepime, piperacillin-tazobactam, or meropenem between October 1, 2017, and March 31, 2019. Clinical outcomes of care included hospital length of stay, readmission within 30 days, and all-cause mortality. RESULTS A total of 551 patients (258 extended infusion, 293 standard infusion) met criteria for evaluation. Clinical outcomes among the entire population were similar. A subanalysis of select populations demonstrated decreased mortality in critical care patients (2.1% vs 19.6%, p = 0.006) and decreased 30-day readmission rates in bone marrow transplant patients (0% vs 50%, p = 0.012) who received the extended infusion compared with a standard infusion. CONCLUSIONS Outcomes were similar between extended and standard infusions in children. Subgroup analyses suggest a possible mortality benefit in the critically ill and decreased readmission rate in bone marrow transplant patients.

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BackgroundInfections due to multi-drug-resistant organisms (MDRO) are associated with poor clinical outcomes. Due to limited treatment options for MDROs, it is essential to improve the delivery of available antibiotics. Optimal efficacy of β-lactam antibiotics can be achieved when free drug concentrations exceed the minimum inhibitory concentration of the organism for at least 50% of the dosing interval. This is more feasible when extending the duration of infusion. Adult literature supporting the use of extended infusion β-lactams (EIBL) is robust; however, pediatric data are limited. Furthermore, extended infusions (EI) may be more difficult to achieve in pediatric patients due to limited intravenous line access. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of EIBLs as the standard of care and compare clinical outcomes between standard infusions (SI) and extended infusions (EI).MethodsThis retrospective chart analysis included hospitalized patients less than 18 years old between October 1, 2017 and March 31, 2019 who received at least 72 hours of cefepime, piperacillin/tazobactam, or meropenem. Patients weighing less than 3.5 kg or requiring continuous renal replacement therapy were excluded. EI were defined as antibiotic delivery over 3–4 hours, while SI were delivered over 30 minutes. The percent of patients completing therapy utilizing EI was measured. Clinical outcomes compared hospital length of stay; time to blood culture clearance, defervescence, inflammatory marker normalization; 30-day readmission rates; and 30-day all-cause mortality between the SI and EI groups.ResultsA total of 560 patients were included in the interim analysis. Over 90% of patients were able to complete therapy utilizing EI (Figure 1). The EI group had lower readmission rates, but the interim analysis has not yet controlled for planned admissions. A sub-analysis of critically ill patients requiring vasopressors identified a lower mortality rate (5.1% vs. 23.1%, P = 0.023) and decreased the length of stay (554 vs. 1,055 hours, P = 0.035) in the EI compared with SI group (Table 1).ConclusionEIBLs are feasible in the pediatric population and may lead to improved outcomes including decreased all-cause mortality and hospital length of stay, especially in critically ill children. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.

Background Decisions to discontinue antibiotics in infants undergoing evaluation for central nervous system (CNS) infection can be difficult. Previous reports have associated the use of the meningoencephalitis (ME) PCR panel with decreased hospital stay and antimicrobial use in pediatric and adult patients. However, limited focus has been on infants ≤60-days-old with temperature instability (TI) who undergo evaluation for serious bacterial infection based on age and risk-stratification. We hypothesize use of the ME panel will decrease the duration of antimicrobial use in infants with TI and negative bacterial cultures undergoing evaluation for CNS infection. Methods The electronic medical record was queried for patients that met inclusion criteria. Infants ≤60-days-old evaluated for CNS infection due to TI between 1/1/12 – 1/31/22 were included. Exclusion criteria were history of intracranial (IC) devices, previous IC surgery, IC structural or neurovascular abnormalities, or head trauma. A retrospective chart review was performed. We compared length of stay and antimicrobial duration for the groups of patients with the ME panel done versus not done. Results A total of 1808 patients with negative bacterial cultures were identified, 96 of whom had the ME panel performed. Patient age, sex, and race were similar between groups. The median hospital length of stay for the patients that had the ME panel done was 64.7 hours as compared to 47.8 hours for those that did not have the ME panel done. The duration of antibacterial therapy was similar when the ME panel was done versus not done. The median duration of therapy for acyclovir was 8.5 when the ME panel was done versus 14.8 hours when it was not done. Conclusion When including all patients ≤60-days-old evaluated for TI, use of the ME panel did not lead to a shorter length of hospital stay or duration of empiric antibiotics. However, use of the ME panel decreased duration of therapy in the subset of patients empirically started on acyclovir. Further data analysis will seek to identify patient populations that may most benefit from the use of the ME panel. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.

Background Studies of pediatric neck infections demonstrate an increase in methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and predominance of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in infants, and commonly polymicrobial infections. Thus, some providers treat acute neck infections with empiric broad spectrum antibiotics, often with two drugs. Our institution often uses clindamycin plus ampicillin-sulbactam as empiric therapy for hospitalized children with acute neck infection. We aimed to identify the microbiology of acute neck abscesses at our institution to determine if stratifying by age and abscess location would allow for single agent therapy. Table 1. Causative organism based on anatomic location of neck infection. Methods Diagnosis codes identified patients hospitalized with acute neck infections. Cases with underlying malignancy, cervicofacial malformations, or lymphatic malformations were excluded. Patients with surgical cultures were categorized into two groups based on anatomic location of infection: medial (retropharyngeal, parapharyngeal, and peritonsillar), lateral (other locations), or both. Within each group, causative pathogen(s) were explored and further categorized by age (infants: < 1 year old; non-infants: ≥1 year old). Results 412 patients were hospitalized for acute neck infection of which 132 had surgical cultures. 110 had growth of one or more pathogens (20 infants, 90 non-infants). 53 infections were located medially, 54 laterally, and 3 had both locations involved. S. aureus was most commonly identified, with lateral infections accounting for the majority (Table 1). 40/44 S. aureus isolates were susceptible to clindamycin. Among medial infections, Streptococcus Anginosus and Group A Streptococcus were most common followed by S. aureus (Table 1). 17/20 (85%) positive cultures in infants grew S. aureus with 8/17 (47%) MRSA. No polymicrobial infections were identified in infants. Among non-infants, 0/39 lateral infections had polymicrobial growth but 23/50 (46%) of medial infections did. Conclusion Local epidemiology based on anatomic location and patient age suggests a single agent (clindamycin for lateral and penicillin with beta-lactamase inhibitor for medial) may be reasonable for non-infants with uncomplicated neck infections. For infants, coverage of MRSA, regardless of anatomic location, is advisable. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures