1224. The incidence of severe C. striatum hospital-acquired pneumonia sharply increased and was associated with a high mortality rate

Abstract Background The clinical information on patients with severe C. striatum pneumonia who require intensive care unit admission is currently limited. Methods We investigated the incidence and characteristics of severe Corynebacterium striatum pneumonia during a 6-year period at Asan Medical Center in comparison with severe pneumonia associated with MRSA. Results Between 2014 and 2019, there were 27 adult cases of severe C. striatum pneumonia. The majority of the cases (70.4%) were hospital-acquired pneumonia (HAP), and about half of the patients (51.9%) were immunocompromised. The incidence of C. striatum HAP significantly increased from 1.0% (2/200) in 2014-2015 to 5.4% (10/185) in 2018-2019 (P < 0.001), while the incidence of severe methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) HAP significantly decreased from 12.0% to 2.7% during the same period. Of the 75 HAP cases whose bacterial pathogens were identified in 2018–2019, C. striatum was responsible for 13.3% of the cases. The 90-day mortality rates were similarly high in the C. striatum and MRSA groups (59.3% vs. 50.5%, P = 0.42). Conclusion In conclusion, C. striatum was a major pathogen of recent severe HAP and was associated with a substantially high mortality rate. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures.