What is it?
- A new type of fungus that can cause illness; identified in Japan in 2009
- Can cause serious infections, especially in people who are already sick or have weakened immune systems
- It can spread easily within hospitals and long-term care facilities
- Can be difficult to treat because it does not respond well to many antifungal medications
Signs & Symptoms
- Different parts of the body can be affected, and the symptoms can depend on the body system (common sites are the blood, wounds, and ears)
- Fever and chills are common
- Some people carry Candida auris on their skin without feeling sick (this is known as colonization)
How do you get it?
- Spreads mainly through direct contact with a person or surface that has the fungus
- Transmission most often occurs in hospital and long-term care settings
Treatment
- Antifungal medication is used to treat Candida auris; however, many strains are resistant to the medication
- A class of medication called echinocandins is effective for most infections
Prevention
- Frequent hand hygiene
- Using a disinfectant effective against Candida auris
- Isolating patients or residents in private rooms if they have Candida auris