897. Prevalence of Candida auris at Body Sites, Characterization of Skin Microbiota, and Relation of Chlorhexidine Gluconate (CHG) Skin Concentration to C. auris Detection Among Patients at a High-Prevalence Ventilator-Capable Skilled Nursing Facility (vSNF) with Established CHG Bathing

Abstract Background vSNF patients are at high risk of colonization and infection with C. auris. CHG bathing has been used as an intervention to reduce nosocomial transmission of multi-drug-resistant organisms, but its effect on C. auris is unclear. Methods We studied a 70-bed ventilator ward in a 300-bed vSNF in Chicago, IL with a high prevalence of C. auris and established CHG bathing. Swab samples were collected from patients for culture, microbiome analysis, and CHG skin concentration testing (Table 1). Results We collected 2,467 samples (950 culture, 950 microbiome, 567 CHG) from 57 patients during 2 surveys conducted January–March 2019. Forty-six (81%) patients had C. auris cultured from ≥1 body site. Mean (±SD) age was 59 (±14) years, 40% were women, 70% were African American, mean (±SD) Charlson score was 3 (±2). Patients colonized with C. auris were more likely to be mechanically ventilated (50% vs. 0%, P < 0.001), have a gastrostomy tube (78% vs. 27%, P < 0.001) or have urinary catheter (72% vs. 23%, P = 0.01) than noncolonized patients. Frequency of C. auris isolation varied among 10 body sites tested (P < 0.001); colonization of anterior nares (41%) and hands (40%) was detected most often (Figure 1). By ITS1 analysis, all isolates were members of the C. auris South American clade. Skin microbiome sequencing confirmed culture Results. While Malassezia is the dominant genera observed in healthy volunteers and patients in this vSNF, C. auris was observed to dominate the fungal community of multiple skin sites, including nares, hands, inguinal, toe web (Figure 2). Other Candida spp. were also identified on the skin of patients in the current study, but at lower relative abundance. CHG was detected on skin of 52 (91%) patients (median CHG concentration 19.5 µg/mL; IQR 4.9–78.1 µg/mL). In a mixed-effects model controlling for body site and multiple measurements per patient, odds of C. auris detection by culture were less at CHG concentrations ≥625 µg/mL than at lower concentrations (Figure 3; OR 0.25, 95% CI: 0.10–0.66; P = 0.005). Conclusion Frequent C. auris colonization of vSNF patients’ anterior nares and hands suggests that nasal decolonization and patient hand hygiene are potential options to reduce C. auris transmission. High concentrations of CHG may be needed to suppress C. auris on skin. Disclosures All Authors: No reported Disclosures.