e18666 Background: Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/ Lymphoblastic Lymphoma (ALL/LLy) is the most common pediatric cancer. Invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) is prevalent in this population and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends pneumococcal vaccination to decrease morbidity and mortality. Despite these recommendations, vaccination rates remain low and the incidence of IPD among children with hematologic malignancy is significantly higher compared to the average pediatric population. An interventional study was designed to improve the vaccination rate and reduce the incidence of IPD in our institution. Methods: A plan-do-study-act (PDSA) model of quality improvement (QI) was used. Chart review at our institute was done for the 6-month period of January 2020 - June 2020 and baseline rates for pneumococcal polysaccharide (PPSV23) vaccination were calculated. Patients were included if they were ≥ 2 years old, diagnosed with ALL/LLy, and undergoing maintenance. A multidisciplinary team performed the root cause analysis. Immunization records were obtained and reviewed and targeted interventions were implemented. The interventions used are outlined in Table. The percentage of pediatric ALL/LLy patients per month in maintenance who received age-appropriate pneumococcal vaccinations was monitored before and after the interventions. Results: Analysis of the 6-month retrospective cohort (n=36) showed a baseline vaccination rate of 5.5%. During the subsequent 6-month phase with interventions, 40 patients were prospectively enrolled. Demographics showed a mean age of 10.2 years (range, 2-21) and a predominantly male (66.7%) cohort. B-cell ALL/LLy comprised the majority (78.9%); the rest included T-cell ALL/LLy and mixed phenotype acute leukemia. As seen in Table, the percentage receiving at least 1 pneumococcal vaccine increased from 5.5% to 84.8% over the first 3 months, this plateaued around 81%. Completion of the series mirrored this and increased to 74.2%. Pre-visit planning and cues proved to be the most helpful interventions. Conclusions: Use of a PDSA model successfully improved pneumococcal vaccination rates in the pediatric ALL/LLy population. We suggest these results can be achieved with planning and implementation of the outlined interventions. [Table: see text]

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), caused by a mutation in the DMD gene, is known to be associated with co-morbidities including cardiomyopathy, respiratory failure, neuromuscular scoliosis and intellectual disability. Animal studies have explored the susceptibility of dystrophin-deficient mice with the development of myogenic tumors. While there is adequate literature describing both DMD and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) separately, there has yet to be a comprehensive literature review investigating the possibility that patients with DMD may be at a higher risk of developing RMS and other myogenic tumors. We present the case of a pediatric patient with DMD who developed alveolar RMS and review the literature for susceptibility to development of myogenic tumors in cases of DMD gene mutation.

Background In pediatric hematologic malignancy, the incidence of invasive fungal infections (IFI) is ~ 5-10% and leads to significant morbidity and mortality. Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) accounts for the largest group at risk and has the largest absolute number of IFI. Antifungal prophylaxis has the potential to mitigate risk of invasive infections in ALL but is not currently standard of care due to the paucity of data in ALL subgroups. A recent systematic review showed a significant reduction in proven/probable IFI and fungal infection-related mortality in pediatric patients when using a mold active agent compared with fluconazole, therefore an echinocandin was selected for systemic antifungal prophylaxis in our institution. In this study we investigate the incidence of IFI in patients with ALL in a highly endemic area (Ohio River Valley) and describe the impact of echinocandin prophylaxis in this population. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of consecutive patients <25 years with ALL from 2015 to 2021 at Norton Children's Hospital, Louisville, KY. IFI was classified as possible, probable, or proven as defined by the 2020 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/ Mycoses Study Group Consensus Group. Patients were then analyzed in 2 subgroups based on prophylaxis with caspofungin. Inpatient administration of caspofungin was given to patients with high-risk B-ALL (HR B-ALL) and T-ALL as outlined in Table 1. Patient and IFI characteristics were collected, and cumulative incidence analyses used for subgroup comparisons. Results Demographics and patient characteristics are summarized in Table 2. Between 2015 to 2020 we identified 100 patients with ALL. Mean age at diagnosis was 7.2 years and 43% were female. We identified 14 unique cases of IFI in 13 patients with ALL who did not receive prophylaxis with caspofungin during 2015 to 2020 (14%). Prior to the implementation of prophylaxis, IFI occurred in 0% (0/43) of the SR B-ALL group, 18.2% (6/33) in HR B-ALL group and 35% (8/23) in T-ALL group. IFI incidence was highest in induction and consolidation phases (71.4%) and implicated species during these phases included Aspergillus, Candida, Fusarium, and Papulasopora. From April 2020 to July 2021, there were 22 newly diagnosed patients with ALL, 11 (50%) of whom received inpatient prophylaxis with caspofungin. There was 1 case (4.5%) of reported IFI during delayed intensification (no prophylaxis at the time of infection). As seen in Figure 1, patients with HR B-ALL and T-ALL who were hospitalized and received caspofungin during induction saw a notable decrease in the cumulative incidence of IFI, from 18.3% to 0% at 6 months into treatment before reaching similar levels in the patients who did not receive prophylaxis. Conclusion In our pediatric population, patients with T-ALL and HR B-ALL were more likely to develop IFI than those with SR B-ALL. Prophylaxis with caspofungin and inpatient hospitalization during induction were effective strategies for reducing the incidence of IFI in induction and consolidation for our high-risk leukemia population. This approach should be validated in larger studies with special consideration being given to patients in fungal endemic areas. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Raj: Terumo Medical Corporation: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Forma therapeutics: Consultancy; Global biotherapeutics: Speakers Bureau.

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