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BACKGROUND COVID-19 has disproportionately affected older adults and certain racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Data quantifying the disease burden, as well as describing clinical outcomes during hospitalization among these groups, are needed. OBJECTIVE We aimed to describe interim COVID-19 hospitalization rates and severe clinical outcomes by age group and race and ethnicity among US veterans by using a multisite surveillance network. METHODS We implemented a multisite COVID-19 surveillance platform in 5 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers located in Atlanta, Bronx, Houston, Palo Alto, and Los Angeles, collectively serving more than 396,000 patients annually. From February 27 to July 17, 2020, we actively identified inpatient cases with COVID-19 by screening admitted patients and reviewing their laboratory test results. We then manually abstracted the patients' medical charts for demographics, underlying medical conditions, and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we calculated hospitalization incidence and incidence rate ratios, as well as relative risk for invasive mechanical ventilation, intensive care unit admission, and case fatality rate after adjusting for age, race and ethnicity, and underlying medical conditions. RESULTS We identified 621 laboratory-confirmed, hospitalized COVID-19 cases. The median age of the patients was 70 years, with 65.7% (408/621) aged ≥65 years and 94% (584/621) male. Most COVID-19 diagnoses were among non-Hispanic Black (325/621, 52.3%) veterans, followed by non-Hispanic White (153/621, 24.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (112/621, 18%) veterans. Hospitalization rates were the highest among veterans who were ≥85 years old, Hispanic or Latino, and non-Hispanic Black (430, 317, and 298 per 100,000, respectively). Veterans aged ≥85 years had a 14-fold increased rate of hospitalization compared with those aged 18-29 years (95% CI: 5.7-34.6), whereas Hispanic or Latino and Black veterans had a 4.6- and 4.2-fold increased rate of hospitalization, respectively, compared with non-Hispanic White veterans (95% CI: 3.6-5.9). Overall, 11.6% (72/621) of the patients required invasive mechanical ventilation, 26.6% (165/621) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 16.9% (105/621) died in the hospital. The adjusted relative risk for invasive mechanical ventilation and admission to the intensive care unit did not differ by age group or race and ethnicity, but veterans aged ≥65 years had a 4.5-fold increased risk of death while hospitalized with COVID-19 compared with those aged CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 surveillance at the 5 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers across the United States demonstrated higher hospitalization rates and severe outcomes among older veterans, as well as higher hospitalization rates among Hispanic or Latino and non-Hispanic Black veterans than among non-Hispanic White veterans. These findings highlight the need for targeted prevention and timely treatment for veterans, with special attention to older aged, Hispanic or Latino, and non-Hispanic Black veterans.

Background In the United States, an estimated 179 million acute gastroenteritis (AGE) episodes occur each year. Identifying factors contributing to AGE susceptibility and severity is important to address the high disease burden of AGE among adults. The primary objective of this analysis was to identify risk factors for all-cause AGE, norovirus-associated AGE and severe AGE among hospitalized adults. Methods We analyzed data from 1029 inpatient AGE cases and 624 non-AGE controls enrolled prospectively from December 1, 2016 – November 30, 2019 from 5 Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (Atlanta, Bronx, Houston, Los Angeles, Palo Alto). Standardized patient interviews and medical chart abstractions were conducted to collect demographics, exposure history, and underlying medical conditions. Stool samples from participants were tested for 22 pathogens using the BioFire Gastrointestinal Panel. Severity of AGE was determined using a 20-point modified Vesikari score (MVS) and severe AGE was defined as a MVS score of ≥ 11. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to assess associations between potential risk factors and outcomes. Results Of the total AGE cases, 551 (54%) had severe AGE; 44 (4%) were norovirus positive. Risk factors for all-cause AGE vs. non-AGE controls included household contact with a person with AGE in the past 7 days (aOR=2.9, 95% CI:1.3-6.7), severe renal disease (aOR=3.1, 95% CI:1.8-5.2), human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) (aOR=3.9, 95% CI:1.8-8.5), and immunosuppressive therapy (aOR=5.6, 95% CI:2.7-11.7). Factors associated with norovirus positivity by univariate analysis were contact with a person with AGE outside (OR=4.4, 95% CI:1.6-12.0) and within (OR=5.0, 95% CI:2.2-11.5) the household in the past 7 days. Detection of any viral pathogen (aOR=4.0, 95% CI:1.7-9.5) was a risk factor for severe AGE. Conclusion Our findings suggest that inpatients with HIV or severe renal disease, on immunosuppressive therapy, or in contact with a person with AGE within household are at higher risk for all-cause AGE. Patients with these medical conditions should be monitored for AGE related hospitalizations and may benefit from targeted AGE prevention messaging. Disclosures Vincent Marconi, MD, Bayer (Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator)Eli Lilly (Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator)Gilead Sciences (Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator)ViiV (Consultant, Scientific Research Study Investigator)

Background In the USA, norovirus is an important cause of epidemic acute gastroenteritis (AGE) as well as a leading cause of pediatric AGE. However, the burden of sporadic norovirus disease in US adults has not been well-documented. Our objective was to estimate the incidence of outpatient visits and hospitalizations for community-acquired norovirus AGE at four Veterans Affairs Medical Centers (VAMCs) and their associated outpatient clinics in Atlanta, GA; Bronx, New York; Houston, TX; and Los Angeles, CA. Methods From November 2011 to September 2015, stool specimens collected for clinician-requested diagnostic testing within 7 days of AGE symptom onset and with reported vomiting or diarrhea were tested for norovirus by real-time RT-PCR and positive samples were genotyped by Sanger sequencing. Incidence of norovirus-associated outpatient visits and hospitalizations were calculated by multiplying the prevalence of norovirus among tested specimens by AGE-coded outpatient encounters and inpatient discharges, and dividing by the unique patients served at each VAMC. Results 1,620 stool specimens were tested from all 4 sites. Seven percent of outpatient (n = 795) samples (annual range: 3%–10%; range by site: 3%–10%) and 6% of (n = 825) samples from hospitalized patients tested positive for norovirus (annual range: 3%–8%; range by site: 3%–10%). Forty-four percent of norovirus-positive specimens were typed as GII.4 Sydney. Seventy-four percent of norovirus-positive specimens were collected between November and April. From 2011 to 2015, outpatient norovirus incidence was 250/100,000 population (annual range: 129 to 426/100,000; range by site: 87 to 428/100,000), and the incidence of norovirus hospitalizations was 28/100,000 population (annual range: 19 to 39/100,000; range by site: 14 to 57/100,000). By age group and setting, the highest incidence was observed among 45- to 64-year-old outpatients (370/100,000 population), and 85+-year-old inpatients (63/100,000 population). Conclusion This study provides estimates of the incidence of norovirus AGE outpatient visits and hospitalizations across multiple years among a geographically distributed VA population, highlighting the substantial burden of norovirus in US adults. Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.

Bacterial biofilm-related infections are a burden on the healthcare industry. The effect of laser generated shockwaves through polycarbonate, a flexible polymer, is explored for its ability to generate high peak stresses, and also for its ability to conform to complex wound surfaces. Shockwave pulses in Al coated polycarbonate substrates and a resulting peak stress of greater than 60 MPa was measured which should provide sufficient pressure to kill bacteria.