What You Need to Know About Candida auris (C. auris)

What is C. auris?

• It is a type of fungus.

• It can live on the surface of skin, without causing symptoms. This is called colonization.  

• People who already have a serious illness are at risk for infections in the body, including in the blood, urine, skin or lungs.

Why is C. auris a problem?

• It has been spreading worldwide over time. Health officials are watching it closely.

• It can spread easily in healthcare facilities, like hospitals and nursing homes.

• It can live on surfaces for weeks.

• It can cause life threatening infections that are hard to treat.

• Medicines that fight fungal infections may not work.  

How does C. auris spread?

It spreads quickly in 2 ways:

• Touching a person who has C. auris

• Touching anything with C. auris on it, such as

  • Medical equipment

  • Linen

  • Door knobs

If you are infected or colonized, you can spread it by touching surfaces or objects.

Who is at risk of C. auris infection?

Most people who get serious this infection are already sick from other medical conditions.

Sick people with any of these have the most risk:

• A weak immune system, like people with cancer or diabetes

• Treatment with a lot of antibiotics

• A tube in the body, such as an IV, catheter, or a feeding or breathing tube

• Recent surgery

It is not a risk to healthy people. If you are healthy, you have low risk of getting a C. auris infection or colonization. In most cases, the CDC does not recommend screening or testing healthy people.

How does UK HealthCare prevent the spread of C. auris in healthcare facilities?

We take these special steps in our hospitals and clinics:

• Clean hands:

  • We will wash our hands with alcohol-based hand sanitizer or soap and water before and after touching you. If we do not, ask us to wash up.

  • Visitors must clean their hands before and after seeing you.

• Separate rooms: Patients with C. auris stay in rooms away from those at risk.

• Protective gear: We wear gloves and gowns when caring for you.

• Room cleaning: We clean patient rooms with disinfectants often.

How can I prevent spread of C. auris?

Clean your hands!  This is the best way to prevent the spread of C. auris.

• Wash your hands with clean, running water and soap.

• Or use a hand cleaner with alcohol in it.

If you know you have C. auris on you, take extra care not to spread it.

• Remind everyone to clean their hands.  Family members and others caring for you should wash their hands before and after touching you or your medical equipment.

• Cover wounds with a bandage.

• Do not share items at home, like towels or wash cloths.

• Before you plan to go to a healthcare building, tell the staff if you have C. auris or have had it before.

• Take antifungals and antibiotics only as prescribed.