Candida Auris: FACTS & PREPAREDNESS

What is C. auris?
Candida auris (also called C. auris) is a fungus that can cause bloodstream and other types of invasive infections. More than 1 in 3 patients die within a month of C. auris infection. Antifungal medications used to treat Candida infections often don’t work. Patients can carry C. auris on their body and can spread from their bodies and get on other people and nearby objects. It can persist in the environment and withstand many routinely used disinfectants. 

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Where is C. auris found in the healthcare environment?
​C. auris persists on surfaces in healthcare environments. C. auris has been cultured from multiple locations in patient rooms, including both high-touch surfaces, such as bedside tables, floors, bedrails and locations further away from the patient, such as windowsills. C. auris has also been identified on mobile equipment, such as glucometers, temperature probes, blood pressure cuffs, ultrasound machines, nursing carts, and crash carts. Meticulous cleaning and disinfection of both patient rooms and mobile equipment is necessary to reduce the risk of transmission. Thorough daily and terminal cleaning and disinfection of patients’ rooms and areas outside of their rooms where they receive care (e.g., radiology, physical therapy) is necessary. 

Is C. auris spreading within the United States and the world?
C. auris is an emerging cause of Candida infections in the United States and the world. Most cases have been detected in the New York City, New Jersey, and Chicago area. It is an emerging global pathogen associated with severe invasive infections and outbreaks worldwide. 

Is the hospital disinfectant effective against C. auris?
Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) that are routinely used for disinfection may not be effective against C. auris. CDC recommends use of an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)-registered hospital-grade disinfectant effective against Clostridioides difficile spores (List K). It is important to follow all manufacturers’ directions for use of the surface disinfectant, including applying the product to all high-touch surfaces for the correct contact time. 

What about UV irradiation?
Data on germicidal UV irradiation are limited and these methods may require cycle times similar to those used to inactivate bacterial spores (e.g. Clostridioides difficile). A recent article on killing of C. auris by UV-C showed a maximal effect of C. auris killing was found after 30 minutes of UV-C exposure at 2 meters (6 feet). With half the time or twice the distance the efficacy strongly diminished to 10-fold and 50-fold, respectively. They also found strains from Japan/Korea were more sensitive to killing than strains originating from Venezuela, Spain and India. The study concluded UV-C exposure-times and distance are the most critical parameters to kill C. auris. Strain variations also determine UV-C efficacy.

The SteraMist® Advantage

• The SteraMist® Surface Unit and solution is EPA registered and on List K.
• SteraMist® can be used on electronic and medical devices in a patient room.
• SteraMist® is portable and can be used in all areas outside patient rooms.
• The SteraMist® Surface Unit is effective against all C. auris strains.
• With C. auris expanding within the US and globally, having a “No-Touch” Enhanced Disinfection” device that is effective against C. auris is paramount.
• The routine use of SteraMist® enables a healthcare facility to kill C. auris and prevent outbreaks.
• When SteraMist® is used on high-touch areas, the ionized hydrogen peroxide gravitates to the floor killing spores and C. auris. Quaternary disinfectants are not effective against spores and C. auris.
• Current studies show UV is not effective against C. auris.
• No UV devices are registered by the EPA and on List K.
• UV-C is not effective as a “No-Touch Enhanced Disinfection” option for C. auris.

Cousino Medical Services utilized SteraMist to help fight against C. Auris. If you're ready to prepare your facilities for C. Auris, and other diseases, call us today. 800-874-2122