Strategies to Prevent Transmission of Candida auris in Healthcare Settings

AbstractPurpose of ReviewCandida auris, a recently recognized yeast pathogen, has become a major public health threat due to the problems associated with its accurate identification, intrinsic and acquired resistance to antifungal drugs, and its potential to easily contaminate the environment causing clonal outbreaks in healthcare facilities. These outbreaks are associated with high mortality rates particularly among older patients with multiple comorbidities under intensive care settings. The purpose of this review is to highlight strategies that are being adapted to prevent transmission ofC. auris in healthcare settings.Recent FindingsColonized patients shedC. auris into their environment which contaminates surrounding equipment. It resists elimination even by robust decontamination procedures and is easily transmitted to new patients during close contact resulting in outbreaks. Efforts are being made to rapidly identifyC. auris-infected/C. auris-colonized patients, to determine its susceptibility to antifungals, and to perform effective cleaning and decontamination of the environment and isolation of colonized patients to prevent further transmission.SummaryRapid and accurate identification of hospitalized patients infected/colonized withC. auris, rapid detection of its susceptibility patterns, and appropriate use of infection control measures can help to contain the spread of this highly pathogenic yeast in healthcare settings and prevent/control outbreaks.

Source: Current Fungal Infection Reports - January 26, 2023 Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research