Learning About Candida Auris Infections

What is a Candida auris infection?

Candida auris (also called C. auris) is a fungus in the yeast family that can cause an infection in blood, tissues like the ear canal, or wounds.

The infection can be serious and even fatal. It's hard to treat because common antifungal medicines often don't work.

C. auris is most often found in those who have risk factors, such as people who:

• Have had recent procedures or surgeries.
• Have had recent wounds or infections and have taken antibiotics or antifungal medicines and now have a resistance to antifungal medicines.
• Have a weak immune system or a chronic health condition like diabetes, kidney disease, or heart disease.
• Use medical devices like feeding tubes, urinary catheters, or intravenous (I.V.) lines like a central vascular access device (CVAD).
• Stay in healthcare facilities like a hospital, an intensive care unit (ICU), or a nursing home often or for a long time. Being on bedrest without doing normal daily activities, such as eating, moving, and self-care, increases the risk.

Some people carry C. auris on their skin, but they don't get sick. But they can pass the fungus to others who are more likely to get a serious infection.

C. auris spreads from one person to another through touch. It can also be spread when you touch something that has the fungus on it.

What are the symptoms?

Symptoms of a Candida auris infection depend on whether it occurs in the blood, the ear, a wound, or some other part of the body. The most common symptoms are a fever and chills that don't get better when treated with medicines that fight infections. Since most people with a C. auris infection may already have had a recent infection or have a weak immune system or another health condition, it may be hard to tell which symptoms are caused by C. auris.

How is it diagnosed?

If a Candida auris infection is suspected, your doctor may take a sample of blood, urine, a wound, or other body fluid such as cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The sample is sent to the lab for testing.

A person may not be sick but may carry C. auris on their skin. The doctor may wipe the skin with a swab and send the swab to the lab.

How is it treated?

A Candida auris infection is treated with antifungal medicines. Your doctor will use test results to see which medicine will work best. C. auris infections often don't respond well to just one medicine. In that case, your doctor may give you high doses of more than one antifungal.

If you have C. auris on your skin but aren't sick, you probably won't get treated. But if you are in a hospital or a nursing home, the staff may take steps, such as keeping you away from others or the use of disinfectants to prevent the spread of C. auris to others.

How can you prevent the spread of the infection to others?

You and those around you can help prevent the infection from spreading to others.

In a healthcare facility

• Isolation. Your doctor may want to keep you away from other people in the hospital. You may be in a special hospital room, called an isolation room. Visitors may be limited to prevent the C. auris fungus from being carried outside your room.
• Hand-washing. Everyone who comes into the room must wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer both before and after the visit. This helps stop the fungus from spreading. When they wash their hands, they should:
  • Use running water and soap.
  • Rub their hands together for at least 20 seconds.
  • Pay special attention to the wrists, the backs of the hands, between the fingers, and under the fingernails.
  • Not touch the faucet with their hand. They can use a paper towel to turn off the water.
• Mask, gloves, and gown. Visitors and caregivers may have to use a mask, disposable gloves, and a gown over their clothes. This helps prevent the fungus from spreading.

At home

• Hand-washing. It's important that you and other close contacts in the home use good hand-washing or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer often.
• Gloves. Anyone who is helping with care that involves touching you, like changing wound dressings or helping you bathe, should wear disposable gloves. And they should wash their hands after removing the gloves.
• Medical device. If you have an invasive medical device, follow the healthcare team's instructions for safe and clean care of the device and the skin around it. This will reduce the risk of C. auris on the skin getting into the body.
• Doctor visits. If you or close contacts need to go to healthcare offices or facilities, be sure to let the staff know about previous positive test results for C. auris before you go. The doctor may not want you to be in contact with other people in the care setting. You will be given instructions on what to do.