Drug-resistant, potentially fatal fungus now in more than half of US states
Candida auris, or C. auris, is traveling. The CDC has confirmed more than 3,400 infections across 27 states as of July 25.
The agency recently reminded hospitals and nursing homes about the hard-to-kill yeast’s penchant for preying on patients who have tubes, catheters or weakened immune systems.
And while healthy individuals who don’t have these risk factors are unlikely to get seriously sick even if infected, CDC says the death rate for the already ill who develop invasive infections ranges between 30% and upwards of 60%.
In its guidance on infection control of C. auris, CDC offers four pointers specifically for hospitals and nursing homes.
1. Patients on contact precautions should be placed in a single-patient room whenever possible.
In situations where limited single-rooms are available, prioritize placing patients with higher likelihood of transmission (such as those with uncontained secretions or excretions, diarrhea, and draining wounds).
2. Facilities can group C. auris patients together in a dedicated unit or part of a unit.
This decreases movement of healthcare personnel and equipment to non-affected areas. Facilities could also consider dedicating healthcare personnel (e.g., nurses, nursing assistants) who provide regular care to these patients during a shift.
3. In nursing homes, facilities with the capacity may consider placing patients with C. auris in single-patient rooms.
Healthcare providers can find recommendations about patient placement in nursing homes using Enhanced Barrier Precautions (EBP) in CDC's FAQs about Enhanced Barrier Precautions in Nursing Homes.
4. When single rooms are not available, facilities may choose to cohort patients with C. auris together in the same room.
It is preferable to cohort patients with the same MDROs together. However, facilities may assign rooms based on single (or a limited number of) high-concern MDROs (e.g., C. auris or carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales) without regard to co-colonizing organisms.
The guidance also presents tips on such pertinent steps as educating staff, adjusting supplies and conducting infection-control audits.
Read the full guidance here and scan the latest news headlines here.
Dave P. has worked in journalism, marketing and public relations for more than 30 years, frequently concentrating on hospitals, healthcare technology and Catholic communications. He has also specialized in fundraising communications, ghostwriting for CEOs of local, national and global charities, nonprofits and foundations.