bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
1052. Serologic vs. molecular testing for screening for hepatitis C virus infection in patients with hematologic malignancies with and without prior hematopoietic cell transplant recipients
Authors: Torres Harrys A , Angelidakis Georgios , Jiang Ying , Economides Minas , Yibirin Marcel , MD Robert Orlowski , Champlin Richard , Verstovsek Srdan , Raad Issam I , Raad Issam I 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
The prevalence of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in patients with cancer in the U.S. has been reported to be 1.5% overall and up to 10.6% in specific subgroups. Testing for antibody to HCV (anti-HCV) is a low-cost diagnostic method in widespread use worldwide; however, the optimal screening test for HCV in cancer patients has not been established. We sought to identify the optimal screening test for HCV in patients with hematologic malignancies and/or prior hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT).

Methods
New patients who were seen at the Lymphoma/Myeloma, Leukemia, and Stem Cell Transplant clinics at MD Anderson Cancer Center (02/11/2019-11/5/2019) were simultaneously screened for HCV with serologic (antibody to HCV [anti-HCV]) and molecular (HCV RNA) assays. Anti-HCV testing was performed by using the ARCHITECT Anti-HCV assay and HCV RNA testing was performed by using the Cobas HCV test. The agreement between the two tests was evaluated using Cohen’s kappa statistic and McNemar’s test. All tests were two-sided with a significance level of 0.05.

Results
A total of 214 patients were enrolled in the study, of whom 127 (59%) were men (Table), One hundred forty-nine patients (70%) had a lymphoid neoplasm, 65 (30%) had a myeloid neoplasm, and 15 (7%) underwent HCT. Ninety-three patients (43%) had progressive disease. Three patients (1.4%) had positive anti-HCV, and two (0.9%) had positive HCV RNA. The overall percentage agreement was 99.5% (95% CI, 97.4% to 99.9%). Of the 3 patients with positive anti-HCV, 2 had positive and 1 had negative HCV RNA. There were no cases of seronegative HCV infection. The positive percentage agreement was 66.7% (95 CI, 20.8% to 93.9%), and the negative percentage agreement was 100.0% (95% CI, 98.2% to 100.0%). Cohen’s Kappa coefficient was 0·80 (95% CI, 0.41 to 1.00, p &lt; 0·0001), indicating substantial agreement between anti-HCV and HCV RNA tests for diagnosis of HCV infection.

Conclusion
The diagnostic yield for screening for chronic HCV infection in heavily immunocompromised cancer patients is similar for serologic and molecular testing. The use of anti-HCV, a diagnostic method with low cost, in patients with cancer would contribute to the World Health Organization’s goal of HCV elimination worldwide.
Table. Characteristics of the study population (n=214)

Disclosures
Harrys A. Torres, MD, Merck & Co., Inc. (Grant/Research Support) Issam I. Raad, MD, Citius (Other Financial or Material Support, Ownership interest)Cook Medical (Grant/Research Support)Inventive Protocol (Other Financial or Material Support, Ownership interest)Novel Anti-Infective Technologies (Shareholder, Other Financial or Material Support, Ownership interest)
1053. The Ecological Relationship Between County-Level HCV Case Rates and Office-Based Buprenorphine in Ohio
Authors: Brook Daniel L , Chettri Shibani , Hetrick Angela , Sibley Adams L , Schalkoff Christine , Lancaster Kathryn , Go Vivian , Kline David , Miller William 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
The United States is experiencing an epidemic of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infections due to injection drug use, especially in rural areas. Counties may be expanding access to buprenorphine, an evidence-based treatment that has been shown to reduce injection drug use, to control the HCV epidemic. We assessed the county-level relationship between HCV rates in 2013-2015 and office-based buprenorphine prescribing in 2018 in Ohio. We also assessed if this relationship varied between rural and urban counties.

Methods
We fit crude and adjusted negative binomial models to assess the relationship between HCV incidence rates in 2013-2015 and office-based buprenorphine prescribing capacity and frequency in Ohio in 2018. We examined effect measure modification of this relationship by rural-urban status using an interaction term.

Results
We found that a 1% higher acute HCV rate was associated with an 18% (95% Confidence Interval [CI]: -3%, 44%) higher office-based buprenorphine prescribing capacity and an 22% (95% CI: -4%, 55%) higher office-based buprenorphine prescribing frequency. We found that a 1% higher total HCV rate was associated with a 239% (95% CI: 179%, 317%) higher office-based buprenorphine prescribing capacity and a 273% (95% CI: 183%, 405%) higher office-based buprenorphine prescribing frequency. We found no evidence of effect measure modification by rural-urban status.

Conclusion
Counties across Ohio may have expanded access to office-based buprenorphine in response to high rates of total HCV. Expansion of office-based buprenorphine may be less associated with acute HCV rates due to the low frequency with which these cases are seen in outpatient settings.

Disclosures
All Authors: No reported disclosures
79. Outcomes Associated with the Utilization of the Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) Nasal Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Assay to De-escalate Vancomycin Therapy in Patients with Suspected Pneumonia at a Rural Community Hospital
Authors: Tirupathi Raghavendra , Kyner Mackenzie , Logsdon Jarett 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
Vancomycin is often added to standard inpatient community acquired pneumonia therapy, but the incidence of MRSA pneumonia is relatively low. The MRSA nasal PCR assay is used to detect if a patient’s nares are colonized with MRSA. Studies have found that this test has an excellent negative predictive value at ruling out MRSA pneumonia. In practice, there is reluctance to utilize this data to de-escalate vancomycin, possibly because little data exists investigating clinical outcomes associated with this intervention. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how this assay, in combination with antimicrobial stewardship, impacts de-escalation of vancomycin and consequently, length of stay, days of therapy, readmission, and mortality.

Methods
We performed a cohort study of patients who received vancomycin for pneumonia during the period 2017–2019. In July 2018, we implemented a pharmacy-led process to de-escalate vancomycin in pneumonia patients based on the results of the nasal MRSA PCR. Patient were excluded if they had concomitant skin/skin structure infection, osteomyelitis, were transferred to another facility, signed out against medical advice, or required mechanical ventilation. Data on patient characteristics, disease severity, length of stay, days of therapy, readmission, and mortality were compared between the groups.
Figure 1: Patient disposition with reasons for exclusion from study

Results
101 and 107 patients were included in the before and after group, respectively. The average length of stay was 5.31 (before group) vs 4.33 days (after group), resulting in a 0.98 day decrease (p=0.0095). Days of therapy was 3.16 (before group) vs 1.96 days (after group), resulting in a 1.2 day reduction (p&lt; 0.0001). 30-day mortality was significantly higher in the before group (19.8%) than the after group (9.3%) (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.23–0.96). 30-day readmission was similar between the two groups (21.8% pre-intervention vs 19.6% post-intervention, p=0.7).
Figure 2: Length of Stay and Duration of therapy reductions between the pre- and post-intervention groups.

Figure 3: 30-day readmission rate and 30-day mortality rate in the pre- and post-intervention groups.

Figure 4: Vancomycin days of therapy per 1000 patient days from July 2017 to May 2020

Conclusion
Use of the MRSA nasal PCR to deescalate vancomycin therapy appears to significantly reduce length of stay and days of vancomycin therapy. Use of this assay did not negatively impact readmission but, may have a positive impact on mortality. Further research is needed to determine the impact of this intervention on length of stay and mortality.

Disclosures
All Authors: No reported disclosures
1055. Assessing the Impact of the Routine Childhood Hepatitis B Immunization and the Need for Hepatitis B Vaccine Birth Dose in Sierra Leone, 2018
Authors: Breakwell Lucy , Marke Dennis , Kaiser Reinhard , Tejada-Strop Alexandra , Pauly Matthew , Stewart Brock , Kabore Hyacinte J , Sesay Tom , Samba Thomas , Hayden Tonya , Kamili Saleem , Jambai Amara , Drobeniuc Jan , Singh Tushar , Tohme Rania A , Wasley Annemarie 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
All African countries recommend 3 doses of hepatitis B vaccine (HepB3), most at 6, 10, and 14 weeks of age, but few recommend a HepB birth dose (HepB-BD). To evaluate the role of mother to child transmission (MTCT) of hepatitis B virus (HBV) with the 3 dose HepB schedule, we conducted a serosurvey in Sierra Leone among 4–30 month old children and their mothers, and 5–9 year old children.

Methods
We conducted a multi-stage cluster survey in 3 districts. Enumeration areas (EA) were selected by probability proportional to size, followed by random selection of eligible households to identify 1901 children per age group. We tested all participants for HBV surface antigen (HBsAg) by rapid test and collected children’s HepB vaccination history. Serum from all HBsAg+ mothers and 1 HBsAg- mother per EA was tested for total antibodies to HBV core antigen (anti-HBc), HBsAg, HBV e antigen (HBeAg), and HBV DNA. We assessed the association of HBsAg prevalence with HepB vaccination and maternal HBV markers.

Results
Among 1889 children aged 4–30 months, 20 (1.3%; 95% CI:0.8%–2.0%) were HBsAg+; HepB3 coverage was 85%. Among 2025 children aged 5–9 years, 32 (1.6%; 95% CI:1.1%–2.3%) were HBsAg+; HepB3 coverage was 77%. Of HBsAg+ children, 70% (14/20) of younger and 56% (18/32) of older children received HepB3. Among 1776 mothers of younger children, 169 (9.8%; 95% CI:8.1%–11.7%) were HBsAg+. HBsAg prevalence for children with HBsAg+ mothers was 5.9% (10/169) and 0.7% (6/1605) for those with HBsAg- mothers (adjusted OR=10.6 [95% CI:2.8–40.8]). Of 139 HBsAg+ mothers, 13 (9%) were HBeAg+ and 126 (91%) had detectable HBV DNA. Maternal HBsAg (p=0.026), HBeAg (p&lt; 0.001), and HBV DNA levels ≥ 200,000 IU/mL (p&lt; 0.001) were associated with HBsAg positivity in younger children (Table 1).
Table 1: Association of maternal HBV serological and molecular markers with HBsAg positivity in 4–30-month old children — Sierra Leone hepatitis B serosurvey, 2018

Conclusion
HBsAg prevalence was much lower among children than among mothers, for whom HepB would not have been available, indicating that routine infant HepB vaccination has substantially lowered HBV burden. Increasing HepB3 coverage could further reduce HBsAg prevalence among children. As HBsAg positivity in young children was strongly associated with having a mother with active HBV infection and &gt; 50% of HBsAg+ children received HepB3, HepB-BD is needed to prevent MTCT of HBV and chronic HBV infections in children.

Disclosures
All Authors: No reported disclosures
1057. CpG-adjuvanted Hepatitis B vaccination improves seroprotection rates in Veterans with HIV
Authors: Deming Meagan , Kottilil Shyam , Wilson Eleanor 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains a global health issue, leading to complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Individuals co-infected with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and HBV have increased liver-related morbidity and mortality compared to those with HBV mono-infection. Vaccination can effectively prevent HBV infection, but certain critical populations including people living with HIV (PLWH) are less likely to achieve seroprotection (antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAb) titer ≥ 10 IU/mL) after vaccination; seroprotection rates (SPR) in PLWH range from 34 to 88% in clinical trials, with improved SPR in those with immunologic reconstitution and viral suppression. With improved immunologic status, SPR have dramatically improved in our Veteran Infectious Disease clinic population. However, a subset of patients remain HBV vaccine nonresponders despite re-vaccination attempts, perhaps due to intrinsic immunologic anergy. We hypothesized that Veterans with HIV who were nonresponders to prior HBV vaccines may respond to a more immunogenic vaccine. Heplisav-B is a 2-dose series, with improved SPR in other classically difficult to vaccinate groups (including the elderly and those with diabetes), but has not yet been studied in individuals with HIV.

Methods
HBV vaccine nonresponders who had previously been vaccinated and boosted with median 3 and up to 8 doses of alum-adjuvanted HBV vaccines were re-vaccinated with Heplisav-B. HBsAb titers were assessed at days 0, 30, and 60 to follow vaccine responses.

Results
Participants had a median age of 65 (range 44 to 83) and were virologically suppressed on antiretroviral therapy. Enrollment and vaccination was interrupted by the COVID-10 pandemic, but 8 of 10 (80%) enrolled participants had seroprotective titers at day 60, with 6 having titers &gt; 1000 IU/mL. Of the 8 additional participants who had available serologies after the first dose, all were seroprotected, and 3 had titers &gt; 1000 IU/mL.16 of 18 (89%) participants achieved seroprotection with Heplisav-B.

Conclusion
Heplisav-B is immunogenic in persons with HIV and should be a reasonable option for HBV vaccination of PLWH who are previous nonresponders.

Disclosures
Shyam Kottilil, MD PhD, Arbutus Pharmaceuticals (Grant/Research Support)Gilead Sciences (Grant/Research Support)Merck Inc (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member)
1059. Evaluating Hepatitis C Screening Rates and Successful Interventions at an Outpatient Medicine/Pediatrics Practice
Authors: Abreu Carina , Wales Danielle P , Eichelman Abigale , Ata Ashar , Ramani Rohini , Waxman Michael 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
Despite the 2013 United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) recommendations, Hepatitis C (HCV) screening rates among patients born between 1945-1965 has remained below 25% (MacLean, 2018). At our outpatient academic suburban primary care practice in Albany County, NY, our hepatitis C baseline prior to interventions was 31.75%. In collaboration with Project FOCUS through Gilead, our practice attempted to increase screening rates among this birth cohort.

Methods
We performed a retrospective chart review on patients eligible for HCV screening with birth years 1945-1965 at the time of their visit at the Albany Med Internal Medicine/Pediatrics practice. We report monthly HCV screening from January 2018 to April 2020. In addition, we determined whether HCV screening rates differed by race, gender, ethnicity, private vs public insurance, and risk stratification or RAF (standard vs. high-risk patient).

Results
The chance that a test conducted for eligible patients increased from 29.9% (pre-intervention) to 58.76% in 2019 (post-intervention). From June 2019- December 2019, the testing rates were consistently above the 2019 average (Figure 1). There were no significant differences in HCV screening due to gender, race, ethnicity, or type of insurance (Table 1).
Figure 1. Hepatitis C Screening Rates at an Outpatient Medicine/Pediatrics Practice 2018-2020

Table 1. Demographics - Hepatitis C Screening Rates

Conclusion
In this outpatient Med/Peds practice, hepatitis C screening rates increased dramatically after incorporation of an EMR prompt, as well as nursing-generated orders for patients due for screening. There was no statistical difference in screening based on race, ethnicity, gender, or insurance type. Of note, high-risk patients were more likely to be screened, perhaps as they receive more case management services and are more likely to be in the office, increasing the opportunities for screening. The next step would be to adapt these interventions to screening all patients age 18-79, as per the updated 2020 USPSTF guidelines.

Disclosures
Danielle P. Wales, MD, MPH, Gilead (Grant/Research Support) Abigale Eichelman, MA, Gilead FOCUS Foundation (Other Financial or Material Support, Employee of Albany Medical Center with Salary Support on Grant) Ashar Ata, MD, MPH, PHD, GILEAD FOCUS Foundation (Grant/Research Support) Michael Waxman, MD, MPH, Gilead FOCUS Foundation (Grant/Research Support)
1060. Evaluation of ALT at Sustained Virologic Response (SVR) in Patients with Treated Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) Infection
Authors: Theppote Amanda , Nelson Amy , Stafford Kristen A , Wilson Eleanor , Kottilil Shyam , Kaplan Roman 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
With the advent of directly acting antiviral agents, HCV cure rates exceed 90% in real world studies with an excellent safety profile, but viral load tests of cure are expensive and may limit access to treatment, especially in resource-limited settings. Elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) has been shown to correlate with hepatocellular damage. Few studies have evaluated the use of ALT in direct acting antiviral (DAA) treated HCV patients post-treatment as a marker of treatment success. In this large retrospective cohort study, we evaluated the ability of serum ALT level at SVR to predict treatment outcome.

Methods
We collected baseline demographics, treatment characteristics, and outcomes of DAA-treated patients treated between January 2015 through January 2019 in the VA Maryland Healthcare System as standard of care, and patients in federally qualified health centers in Washington, DC treated between May and November 2015 in the ASCEND study (NCT02339038). Using the ASCEND study as a training set and VA data as the confirmatory set, receiver operating curves (ROC) were generated to determine the predictive value of ALT at SVR for treatment outcome.

Results
In total, 1415 patients were included, with 1010 patients from the VA and 405 from the ASCEND cohort. We found 96% (n=1360) of patients achieved SVR; &lt; 4% (n =55) relapsed. Baseline demographics are in Table 1. The ALT at SVR were 21.19 IU/L (SD 13.98) and 17.89 IU/L (SD 11.62) in the VA and ASCEND data, respectively compared to 57.84 (SD 41.06) and 42.53 (SD 19.61) who relapsed. With the VA and ASCEND data combined, the mean ALT at SVR was 20.25 (SD 13.43) in comparison to an ALT of 53.11 (SD 36.33) for those patients who relapsed. ROC analysis revealed that ALT &gt; 22 predicted an increased risk of relapse (Figure 1).
Table 1:Characteristics of Subjects Completing Hepatitis C Treatment

Figure 1: ROC Curve

Conclusion
In this real-world cohort, we found that ALT greater than 22 at SVR corresponded with an increased risk of relapse and was independent of variables previously associated with relapse, including HIV coinfection status, sex, treatment history, and fibrosis staging. Limiting HCV viral load testing to patients with ALT &gt; 22 at SVR may reduce the overall burden of HCV treatment costs for the majority of HCV treated patients.

Disclosures
Shyam Kottilil, MD PhD, Arbutus Pharmaceuticals (Grant/Research Support)Gilead Sciences (Grant/Research Support)Merck Inc (Grant/Research Support, Advisor or Review Panel member)
1061. False Positive Human Immunodeficiency Virus Testing Due to Acute Hepatitis A Infection: A Case Series
Authors: Bandres Maria V , Mueller Daniel 
Published: January 2021

Abstract

Background
In our urban, underserved patient population, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is hyper-endemic, and HIV screening is frequently performed. Although HIV screening tests have high specificity, false positives can occur. Numerous reasons for false positive testing have been cited, including vaccinations, autoimmune diseases, and viral infections. In 2019, Philadelphia experienced a large Hepatitis A outbreak, during which time false positive HIV screening tests were discovered. Our aim was to further describe these patients who had been diagnosed with acute Hepatitis A infection and in whom false positive HIV testing had occurred.

Methods
We conducted a retrospective chart review of adult patients admitted to our hospital between January 2017 and December 2019 who had a positive Hepatitis A Virus (HAV) IgM. Demographics, HIV tests, viral hepatitis tests, and liver tests were recorded. False positive HIV was defined as a positive HIV screen (p24 antigen and HIV-1 and 2 antibody combo), followed by a negative differentiation assay for HIV-1 and 2 antibodies, combined with a negative HIV PCR.

Results
A total of 156 unique patients were found to have acute HAV, with 138 cases identified in 2019. Of these, 3 patients had confirmed false positive HIV testing, and 1 patient had suspected false positive HIV testing (HIV-2 differentiation assay indeterminate, with very low local prevalence of HIV-2), for a false positive test rate of 2.6% (4/156). Ages ranged from 36-47 years, 3 were male, and 2 were persons who injected drugs (PWID). Three patients had prior negative HIV testing. Two patients had fevers during admission, but none of the four were febrile at the time of HIV test collection. Three patients had elevated transaminases, and two had abnormal coagulation testing. Coinfection with Hepatitis C was found in three patients. One patient had follow-up HIV testing performed, which was negative.

Conclusion
To our knowledge, this is the first report of false positive HIV testing related to acute HAV. Prevalence of false positives was low, but awareness can facilitate patient counseling. With low sample size, conclusions cannot be drawn about risk factors related to false positive testing.

Disclosures
All Authors: No reported disclosures