BackgroundRecurrence of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) is a problem that can cost up to $20,000 each year in the United States. Studies have reported risk factors that may be associated with a higher incidence of recurrent CDI. We studied additional risk factors, including history of partial colectomy, chemotherapy use and hospitalization in the intensive care unit (ICU).MethodsWe conducted a retrospective chart review of all outpatients and inpatients at our institution to determine risk factors associated with recurrent CDI. Frequencies were compared using Fisher’s exact test and continuous data were compared using Wilcoxon ranks sums test. Recurrent CDI was determined for all patients and risk factors were analyzed using single and multiple logistic regression. A P < 0.05 was used to determine significance.ResultsThis study included 435 patients and found that advanced age significantly increased the odds of recurrent CDI by 2.3% per year (OR = 1.023, 95% CI = 1.009 - 1.037, P < 0.05). Patients with prior partial colectomy were found to have 3.2 times increased odds of recurrence compared to those without history of partial colectomy (OR = 3.168, 95% CI = 1.324 - 7.579, P < 0.05). Patients receiving chemotherapy or hospitalized in the ICU were not found to have a significantly higher rate of recurrent CDI (P > 0.05).ConclusionsAdvanced age and history of partial colectomy were associated with a significantly higher recurrence rate of CDI. Contrary to prior studies, chemotherapy use or hospitalization in the ICU were not found to be associated with a higher rate of recurrent CDI.

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BackgroundIn 2015, the CDC established the National Action Plan for Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria, with the goal of reducing inappropriate outpatient antibiotic use by 50% by 2020. Upper respiratory infections, (URIs) account for one of the top three diagnoses prompting outpatient visits, and despite viral pathogens being the etiology of most URIs, many patients are treated with antibiotics. This study aimed to reduce inappropriate antibiotics prescribing for URIs at Cooper Primary Care offices.MethodsUsing the electronic medical record, we analyzed office visits (OVs) of 63 primary care providers during the influenza season (November 1, 2017–February 28, 2018) that were associated with a URI diagnosis code and resulted in an antibiotic prescription. The intervention was a personalized digital URI score card (Figure 1) emailed to each primary care physician. It included (1) Cooper Hospitals’ Primary Care Department Average Rate of Antibiotic Prescribing for URI OVs and (2) each physician’s average rate of antibiotic prescribing for URI office visits. Data were collected post-intervention (November 1, 2018–February 28, 2019) to evaluate for changes in antibiotic prescribing patterns.ResultsUsing Fischer’s Exact test we analyzed the pre vs. post-intervention rate of antibiotic prescribing for URI OVs. There were 7,295 total pre-intervention office visits. Of these, 41.03% resulted in an antibiotic prescription. There were 6,642 total post-intervention office visits. Of these, 35.85% resulted in an antibiotic prescription. There was a 5.18% overall decrease in antibiotics prescribed for all URI office visits (P < 0.001) (see Figure 2).ConclusionIncreasing providers’ awareness of their own prescribing patterns compared with their department’s prescribing patterns utilizing a single report card decreased the rate of antibiotics prescribed for URIs by 5.18% for all URI-related office visits. Specifically, there was 10.19% decrease in antibiotics prescribed for bronchitis, which is by definition, of viral etiology. This is significant given the potential side-effects of unnecessary antibiotics, and the emergence of antibiotic resistance. Limitations include a lack of certainty in “true” inappropriate prescriptions and diagnosis coding. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.