TARRANT COUNTY, TX
Epidemiology
Candida auris (C. auris)
What is Candida auris?
Candida auris (C. auris) is a yeast, which is a type of fungus. C. auris that causes serious infections. C. auris can live on someone’s skin and not cause any illness (this is called colonization). A person can be colonized with C. auris for a very long time, and over time the yeast can enter the body, get into the bloodstream, and spread throughout the body, causing serious invasive infections. C. auris yeast is usually able to survive at least one antifungal drug and one-third of C. auris yeasts can survive two antifungal drugs. Since C. auris is resistant to common antifungal drugs it can be very difficult to treat.
Who gets Candida auris?
Patients who have been hospitalized or who have been admitted to a healthcare facility for a long time, have an in-dwelling medical device (lines or tubes entering their body), or have previously received antibiotics or antifungal medications, appear to be at the highest risk of infection with this yeast.
What are the symptoms of Candida auris?
A person with C. auris may or may not experience symptoms. If they get sick, it can happen right away or a long time after they caught C. auris. If symptoms are present, they will depend on the site of infection. Patients with C. auris bloodstream infections often have sepsis and severe illness. Other invasive C. auris infections, such as intraabdominal candidiasis, can also occur. Invasive C. auris infections can often lead to death. C. auris can also cause wound and ear infections. Doctors have found C. auris in urine and respiratory specimens, but it is unclear if it causes infections in the bladder or lungs. C. auris can colonize (live on) the skin, nose, ears, and other body sites without causing any symptoms.
How is Candida auris spread?
C. auris can spread through direct person-to-person contact or through contaminated environmental surfaces, medical devices, or equipment. When healthcare workers touch these objects, their hands become contaminated and unless they are careful, they can then spread C. auris with their hands. We don't know how long someone with C. auris is contagious, it may be as long as the yeast is present on or in the individual. C. auris can survive in the healthcare environment for weeks and certain disinfectants often used in healthcare settings may not kill C. auris. Many patients in the same healthcare facility can catch C. auris within a short amount of time if proper infection control practices and disinfectants are not used.
What can be done to prevent the spread of Candida auris?
To prevent C. auris from spreading healthcare workers must quickly detect C. auris and must follow recommended infection control practices, including:
- Hand hygiene: using alcohol-based hand sanitizer or washing their hands at all the right times.
- Contact precautions: wearing a gown and gloves when caring for someone suspected or known to have C. auris.
- Environmental disinfection: careful cleaning of the healthcare setting and equipment using proper disinfectant products from EPA List P.
- Interfacility Communication: notifying other healthcare facilities when transferring C. auris colonized or infected patients (verbally and writing using an Inter-Facility Infection Prevention Transfer Form).
- Contact tracing: gathering information to find people who may need testing.
- Public health notification: sharing important information about any cases or outbreaks early.
- Public health action: acting fast to prevent further cases and stop an outbreak.
Hospitals might test patients for multidrug-resistant bacteria and yeast to identify them early. Early detection helps prevent spread to other patients.
If you have been diagnosed with C. auris, you should:
- Take antibiotics and antifungals only as prescribed.
- Expect all doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers to wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub. They should do this before and after touching your body or tubes going into your body. If they do not, ask them to do so.
- Clean your hands often, especially:
o before preparing or eating food;
o before and after changing wound dressings or bandages;
o after using the bathroom;
o after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. - Ask questions. Understand what is being done to you, the risks, and the benefits.
More information on C. auris:
Texas Department of State Health Services: C. auris