Ranganath, Nischal

Abstract Background Vascular graft infection (VGI) is a rare but serious condition. Pathogen identification can be difficult given the deep-seated nature. Microbial cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing (mcfDNA NGS) is an emerging tool in non-invasive microbiologic workup. One commercially available mcfDNA is the Karius Test (KT). There is a paucity of data regarding utility and impact of mcfDNA NGS testing in the evaluation of VGI. Methods We retrospectively evaluated adult patients who underwent KT for evaluation of VGI at our institution. Only patients who met the Management of Aortic Graft Infection Collaboration (MAGIC) classification for suspected or confirmed VGI were included. We investigated the concordance between KT and conventional microbiologic workup. Conventional workup (CW) included pathogen identification through blood cultures, peri-graft/graft cultures, or histopathology. Concordance was defined by identical pathogen identification on KT and CW. We examined the influence of the KT result on clinical management.Figure 1.KT Results for Confirmed and Suspected VGI. Results We identified 25 patients who met criteria for either suspected or confirmed VGI per the MAGIC criteria. Microbiology was undefined in 8 patients who had negative KT and negative CW. A total of 17 patients had positive workup with 6 having positive KT and negative CW, 3 having negative KT and positive CW, and 8 having both positive KT and positive CW (Table 1). KT was less likely to be positive for patients who met criteria for suspected infection (4/10; 40%) as opposed to confirmed infection (10/15; 66.67%), albeit non-significant (OR 0.33, p=0.188) (Figure 1). The KT led to antimicrobial de-escalation in 27.3% of patients with positive CW and 35.7% of patients with negative CW (Figure 2). Full concordance of KT and CW was noted in 3 patients (Table 2).Figure 2.Influence of KT on VGI cases with positive and negative conventional work-up. Treatment escalation was defined as the broadening of antimicrobial coverage due to KT results. Treatment de-escalation was defined as narrowing/discontinuation of antimicrobial coverage due to KT results. Conclusion We found that the positivity rate for KT was 56%. KT impacted management in 40% of cases. Patients with confirmed VGI had a higher likelihood of having a positive KT. KT was the only positive microbiological definitive test in one case. Further studies are needed to explore the utility and impact of KT in the workup of VGI. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Abstract Background Invasive mold infections (IMI) lead to significant morbidity and mortality in patients with hematologic malignancies. We provide patients deemed at higher risk mold active prophylaxis but still observe breakthrough IMIs. The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors associated with these breakthrough infections. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of adult hematologic patients at 3 tertiary care medical centers from November 19, 2011 - August 6, 2021. Only IMI cases defined as proven or probable per EORTC/MSG criteria were included. Patients with IMIs who received a minimum of 7 days of mold active prophylaxis were classified as breakthrough infection. We performed logistical regression analysis to identify risk factors associated with breakthrough IMI. Results Majority of cases were probable IMIs, with 16 (28.6%) and 25 (15.7%) proven cases amongst breakthrough and non-breakthrough IMIs, respectively. Many variables indicative of weakened host immune system, including neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia, were associated with breakthrough IMIs, albeit not statistically significant (Table 1). Multivariate analysis revealed history of AML (OR 4.20, 95% CI 2.03-8.88; p < 0.001) and receipt of HCT (OR 3.37, 95% CI 1.46-8.11; p = 0.003) to be independent host risk factors for breakthrough IMI. Of all the pathogens, Fusarium (OR 4.38, 95% CI 1.56-12.56; p = 0.005) and Mucorales (OR 5.59, 95% CI 2.11-15.61; p < 0.001) were significantly likely to lead to breakthrough IMIs. 26 (47.3%) of the breakthrough IMIs were on appropriately dosed prophylaxis at the time of infection, with only 9 (16.4%) found to be subtherapeutic (Table 2). Overall, mortality was slightly higher amongst the breakthrough IMIs (51.8% vs 45.9%) but not significantly different (Figure 1). Conclusion In our cohort of probable/proven IMIs, we did not observe any significant difference in mortality between patients with breakthrough IMIs and those not on mold active prophylaxis. Even with appropriate prophylactic dosing, breakthrough infections occurred, irrespective of agent. Our study demonstrates that host risk factors and the causative pathogen are clinically more pertinent than the prophylaxis regimen in breakthrough IMIs. Disclosures Paschalis Vergidis, MD, MSc, AbbVie: Advisor/Consultant|Ansun Biopharma: Grant/Research Support|Cidara Therapeutics: Grant/Research Support|F2G: Grant/Research Support|Scynexis: Advisor/Consultant|Scynexis: Grant/Research Support

Abstract Background The introduction of shotgun metagenomic sequencing (sMGS) methods that identify the presence of microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) in peripheral blood have shown promising results in various populations of patients. There is a pressing need to evaluate its application for osteoarticular infections (OAIs) in real-world setting. Baseline characteristics of the patients with suspected osteo-articular infections, including demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, and KT results. Methods We retrospectively collected data on 73 adult patients who presented to the Mayo Clinic with suspected OAIs between 2019 and 2023, and for whom mcfDNA sMGS (Karius®, KT) testing was part of their diagnostic workup. We collected data on comorbidities, diagnostics, microbiological workout and its concordance with the KT. The primary objective was to evaluate its clinical impact on OAI diagnoses and management distinguishing into four categories: (1) KT was able to confirm an established diagnosis, (2) KT supported non-ID diagnosis, (3) KT established an unsuspected diagnosis, (4) KT did not add relevant information. Relevant microbiologic studies of patients with unsuspected diagnoses established by the KT (N=5) Results In our cohort KT was performed in 73 patients (Table 1). Among the infected individuals, KT yielded positive results in 22/43 (51.2%) cases. Out of these 22 cases, 11 (50%) showed agreement with conventional diagnostic workup, while in five (22.7%) cases, the KT established an unsuspected diagnosis, improving the diagnostic power from 11/43 (25.6%) to 16/43 (37.2%) (Table 2). Moreover, yielded a negative result in 19/26 (73.1%) patients with non-infectious diagnosis (Figure 1). Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis (NVO) diagnosis (p < 0.001) or OAIs with concomitant presence of endocarditis or endovascular infection (p = 0.005) were statistically associated with a definite, probable, or possible diagnostic certainty of KT result (Table 3). Overall, KT influenced antibiotic therapy in six cases (8.2%). Table 3 Factors associated with diagnostic certainty categories Conclusion This is the first retrospective study aiming to assess the real-world usefulness of the KT on the clinical management of patients with OAIs, with a special focus on NVO. It underscores KT's real-world application in cases where traditional diagnostic methods fall short. In highly complex OAIs cases, KT added 11.6% to the diagnostic power by establishing unsuspected diagnosis in 5 of 43 infective patients. Patients with NVO or OAIs with concomitant endocarditis or endovascular infections particularly benefited from KT testing. Figure 1 Distribution of KT results and their respective outcome according to the final diagnosis of suspected OAIs cases. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

Abstract Background The underlying cause of fever of unknown origin (FUO) remains unidentified in up to 51% of cases despite systematic evaluation. Microbial cell-free DNA next-generation sequencing (mcfDNA-NGS) offers an agnostic, noninvasive approach to pathogen identification, but the utility and clinical impact of this assay in FUO remain unknown. Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated adult patients referred for FUO evaluation at a tertiary medical center between November 2019 and November 2023. Patients underwent both standard microbiologic testing (ST) and mcfDNA-NGS. Diagnostic impact was assessed in 4 domains: new diagnoses, earlier time to diagnosis, avoidance of invasive procedures, and non-hypothesis-driven diagnoses. Logistic regression was used to identify predictors of positive mcfDNA-NGS testing. Results Among 176 patients, mcfDNA-NGS was positive in 44.3%, with 49% of these cases considered clinically significant. Infectious cause of FUO was identified in 39% of patients, noninfectious in 35%, and unknown in 26%. mcfDNA-NGS contributed to a positive diagnostic impact in 30% of cases, mainly by earlier diagnosis (16%) and potential for avoidance of invasive procedures (10%). Positive mcfDNA-NGS was significantly associated with higher Charlson comorbidity index score (odds ratio [OR], 1.22; P < .001) and white blood cell (WBC) count ≤4.5 × 109 cells/L (OR, 8.61; P < .001). Conversely, FUO without localization was associated with a decreased likelihood of positive mcfNDA testing (OR, 0.18; P < .001). Conclusions mcfDNA-NGS effectively complements ST in diagnosing FUO, providing earlier detection and minimizing invasive testing. Clinical predictors such as high comorbidity and low WBC count may guide the optimal use of mcfDNA-NGS in FUO. Prospective evaluation of optimal timing and use of mcfDNA-NGS and cost-benefit analysis in FUO is needed.

ABSTRACT Introduction With reports of expanding epidemiology of blastomycosis across the United States, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence and outcomes associated with blastomycosis in solid organ transplant (SOT) and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Methods We conducted a retrospective case series of adult SOT and HCT recipients at a tertiary care medical center between January 1, 2005 and September 30, 2023. Cases were defined as culture‐proven blastomycosis. We performed descriptive statistical analysis to evaluate diagnosis, management, and outcomes (mortality) of blastomycosis in SOT. Results The cumulative incidence of blastomycosis was 0.11% with a median time to infection following transplant of 743 days. Of the 19 cases, the majority of patients were SOT recipients (90%). Supratherapeutic immunosuppression within 30 days of diagnosis was observed in 42% of cases with documented drug monitoring. Urine antigen testing was highly sensitive (100%). Fourteen (73.7%) patients received induction therapy with liposomal amphotericin B followed by azole therapy for a minimum of 12 months. Despite appropriate treatment, 1‐year mortality was high at 26.3%, with attributable mortality of 21.1%. Conclusions While rates of blastomycosis remain low among SOT and HCT recipients, infection is associated with poor posttransplant outcomes. Antigen testing can aid in timely assessment of disease severity and initiation of appropriate therapy. Among survivors, no relapses were observed while on lifelong secondary suppression. Future studies should aim to better define risk factors associated with developing blastomycosis and establish effective strategies for prevention.

ABSTRACT The prevalence of invasive candidiasis caused by non- albicans Candida species is increasing. Candida guilliermondii is an infrequent cause of candidemia but has been associated with decreased susceptibility to triazoles. Clinical data related to the infection with C. guilliermondii are sparse. Our study evaluated the antifungal susceptibility testing (AST) for C. guilliermondii isolates submitted to a reference laboratory over a 12-year period (2012–2023). AST patterns were examined using Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) and European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) epidemiological cutoff values (ECVs) and breakpoints. Where isolates were identified from patients treated at our institution, retrospective chart review was performed to describe patient risk factors, treatment approaches, and outcomes associated with C. guilliermondii fungemia. One hundred twelve blood culture isolates of C. guilliermondii were identified, and clinical data were available for 21 fungemic patients. A significant number of isolates (9.8–20.5%) were observed to be non-wild type for various triazoles. All isolates were susceptible to micafungin. A majority (76.2%) of cases of C. guilliermondii fungemia treated at our tertiary care center were hospital-acquired, and two-thirds of patients were immunocompromised at the time of diagnosis. Ten of the 21 patients died within 60 days of fungemia, although mortality was directly or partially attributed to C. guilliermondii fungemia in only four cases (19.0%). Echinocandins may be used for empiric therapy for C. guilliermondii until the results of AST are available. Further research is required to determine appropriate clinical breakpoints for triazoles. IMPORTANCE Our study addresses a significant knowledge gap in the clinical management of this non- Candida albicans species. Our retrospective review includes comprehensive AST data for 112 Candida guilliermondii isolates, which is the largest number of isolates reported from the United States to date. Susceptibility data are supplemented by clinical outcomes, where isolates were identified for patients treated at Mayo Clinic. Key findings from our study include the observation that a notable proportion of C. guilliermondii isolates exhibit non-wild-type profiles for various triazoles. Importantly, all isolates remained susceptible to echinocandins, suggesting their efficacy as first-line therapy in the absence of timely susceptibility results. Furthermore, our study highlights the high mortality associated with C. guilliermondii fungemia in immunocompromised patients, emphasizing the urgent need for optimized treatment strategies.

Abstract Background Recent advances in shotgun metagenomic sequencing (sMGS) for detecting microbial cell-free DNA (mcfDNA) in peripheral blood have shown promise across various patient populations. This study evaluates the application of sMGS for diagnosing osteoarticular infections (OAIs), a condition with significant diagnostic challenges. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis on 73 patients suspected of OAIs at the Mayo Clinic from 2019 to 2023, incorporating mcfDNA sMGS (Karius test [KT]) into their diagnostic evaluation. We categorized the clinical impact of KT on OAI diagnoses and management into 4 distinct outcomes. (1) KT was able to confirm an established diagnosis, (2) KT supported noninfectious diseases diagnosis, (3) KT established an unsuspected diagnosis, (4) KT did not add relevant information. Results In our cohort, KT was performed in 73 patients. Among the infected individuals, KT yielded positive results in 22 of 43 (51.2%) cases. Of these 22 cases, 11 (50%) showed agreement with conventional diagnostic workup, whereas in 5 (22.7%) cases, the KT established an unsuspected diagnosis. Native vertebral osteomyelitis diagnosis (P < .001) or OAIs with concomitant presence of endocarditis or endovascular infection (P = .005) were statistically associated with a definite, probable, or possible diagnostic certainty of KT result. Conclusions In complex OAIs, KT enhanced diagnostic accuracy by 11.6%, proving especially beneficial in diagnosing native vertebral osteomyelitis and infections with concurrent endocarditis or endovascular complications. Our findings underscore the utility of KT in the diagnostic workflow for challenging OAI cases, potentially altering clinical management for a significant subset of patients.

Abstract Background Identifying and treating patients with acute Q fever who are at an increased risk of progressing to persistent disease is crucial for preventing future complications. In this study, we share our decade-long clinical experience with acute Q fever, highlighting the challenges that clinicians encounter from making an initial diagnosis and performing risk stratification to determining the appropriate prophylaxis regimen and duration. Methods We retrieved records of adult Mayo Clinic patients (≥18 years) with positive Coxiella burnetii serology results between 1 January 2012 and 31 March 2022. Patients with Q fever anti–phase II immunoglobulin G ≥1:256 by indirect immunofluorescence were further analyzed. Results Thirty-one patients were included. Their median age was 58 years (IQR, 50–64), and the majority were men (84%). Acute hepatitis (29%), flu-like illness (25.8%), and pneumonia (16%) were the most common presentations. Thirteen patients (42%) received antibiotic prophylaxis to prevent disease progression, with significant variation in the indications and duration across physicians. The combination of doxycycline and hydroxychloroquine was the preferred regimen. Prophylaxis was administered for a median 333 days (IQR, 168–414). Four patients (13%) progressed to Q fever native valve infective endocarditis, with elevated anticardiolipin immunoglobulin G levels being the sole risk factor in 2 cases. The small sample size precluded drawing conclusions on the impact of prophylaxis in preventing disease progression. Conclusions Management of acute Q fever is complicated by the lack of comprehensive clinical guidelines leading to varied clinical practices. There is a critical need for randomized trials to establish robust evidence-based protocols for management.

ABSTRACT Rhodococcus equi is an opportunistic pathogen known to cause pulmonary and extrapulmonary disease among immunocompromised patients. Treatment is frequently challenging due to intrinsic resistance to multiple antibiotic classes. While non- equi Rhodococcus spp. are prevalent, their clinical significance is poorly defined. There is also limited data on antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST) of Rhodococcus infection in humans. We conducted a single-center, retrospective cohort study evaluating clinical characteristics, microbiologic profile, and AST of Rhodococcus infections between June 2012 and 2022 at our tertiary academic medical center. Identification of Rhodococcus spp. was performed by Sanger 16S rRNA gene sequencing and/or matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry, and AST was performed by agar dilution. Three hundred twenty-two isolates of Rhodococcus spp. were identified from blood (50%), pulmonary (26%), and bone/joint (12%) sources. R. equi/hoagii, R. corynebacterioides , and R. erythropolis were the most frequently isolated species, with 19% of isolates identified only to genus level. One hundred ninety-nine isolates evaluated for AST demonstrated high-level resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanate, cephalosporins, and aminoglycosides. More than 95% susceptibility to imipenem, vancomycin, linezolid, rifampin, and clarithromycin was observed. Non- equi species showed a significantly more favorable AST profile relative to R. equi . Clinically significant Rhodococcus infection was rare with 10 cases diagnosed (majority due to R. equi ) and managed. The majority of patients received 2- or 3-drug combination therapy for 2–6 months, with favorable clinical response. Significant differences in AST were observed between R. equi and non- equi species. Despite high antimicrobial resistance to several antibiotic classes, imipenem and vancomycin remain appropriate empiric treatment options for R. equi . Future research evaluating mechanisms underlying antimicrobial resistance is warranted.

AbstractIntroductionGram‐negative bacillary bloodstream infection (GN‐BSI) is a frequent clinical challenge among immunocompromised hosts and is associated with a high mortality. The utility of follow‐up blood cultures (FUBCs) for GN‐BSI in this population, particularly in the setting of neutropenia, is poorly defined.MethodsWe conducted a single‐center, retrospective cohort study between the period of July 2018 and April 2022 to investigate the utility of FUBCs and delineate risk factors for positive cultures among neutropenic patients with monomicrobial GN‐BSI. Univariate logistic regression was performed to assess risk factors associated with positive FUBCs.ResultsOf 206 patients, 98% had FUBCs performed, and 9% were positive. Risk factors for positive FUBCs included multidrug‐resistant GN infection (OR 3.26; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.22–8.72) and vascular catheter source (OR 4.82; CI 1.76–13.17). Among patients lacking these risk factors, the prevalence of positive FUBCs was low (2.8%) and the negative predictive value was 92%. Those with positive and negative FUBCs had similar rates of all‐cause mortality (16.7% vs. 16.6%; p = .942) and microbiologic relapse (11.1% vs. 6.0%; p = .401) within 90‐days of treatment completion. However, positive FUBCs were associated with prolonged hospitalization and longer duration of antimicrobial therapy.ConclusionPositive FUBCs were infrequent in neutropenic patients with GN‐BSI, and their occurrence did not significantly impact mortality or microbiologic relapse. Risk factors for positive FUBCs included multidrug resistant Gram‐negative infection and vascular catheter source. Prospective studies will be necessary to elucidate the benefits and risks of FUBCs when managing GN‐BSI in patients with underlying immune compromise. image