What is Candida auris?
- Candida auris (also known as C. auris) is a fungus that can cause serious illness in hospitalized people
- auris can infect many parts of the body; common types include bloodstream infections, wound infections, and ear infections
- The most common symptoms of a serious infection are fever and chills that don’t improve after treatment
with antibiotics - C. auris can spread in healthcare settings through contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, or
from person-to-person
Why is C. auris in the news?
- It is often multidrug-resistant, meaning that many antifungal drugs commonly used to treat Candida
infections may not be effective - It is difficult to identify and can be misidentified in labs without specific technology, which may lead to inappropriate management
- Since it has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings, it is important to quickly identify C. auris in a
hospitalized patient so that healthcare facilities can take special precautions to stop its spread - The number of cases and positive screenings are increasing here in Cuyahoga County and across the United States
Who is most likely to get C. auris?
- People who have frequent or long-term stays in hospitals or nursing homes
- People who have lines and tubes that go into their body, such as breathing tubes, feeding tubes
and central venous catheters - Other risk factors may include diabetes, those who recently underwent surgery, or broad-spectrum
antibiotic and antifungal use - C. auris currently poses a low risk to the general public
How is C. auris diagnosed and treated?
- A laboratory test (culture of blood or other bodily fluids) is needed to determine if a patient has a
C. auris infection - Infections can be treated with antifungal medicine, though some C. auris infections are resistant to
antifungal medicine, making them difficult to treat - Patients with C. auris in healthcare facilities are placed under special precautions to prevent the
spread of the fungus
Are families of infected individuals at risk?
- Healthy family members and close contacts of infected individuals have a low chance of infection
- The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) do not generally recommend testing for
family members or close contacts of infected individuals
For more information: www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris.