Further compounding these contributing factors to C . auris transmission , C . auris persists in the healthcare environment on various fomites and surfaces for weeks .”
➍ Cleaning and disinfection responsibilities : Ensure all equipment is assigned an owner responsible for cleaning and disinfection . For example , identify if nursing or environmental services is responsible for disinfecting medication pumps during a hospital stay . At terminal cleaning a medication pump may be sent to the sterile processing department for cleaning and disinfection .
➎ Cohorting : c . Consider cohorting infected and / or colonized patients to one side of the unit or floor – avoid having a C . auris negative patient surrounded by two C . auris patients d . If feasible , consider cohorting staff
➏ Procedural areas :
e . Confirm procedural areas are made aware when they are receiving a C . auris positive patient and know the appropriate PPE to wear f . When possible , C . auris patients should be scheduled for the last case of the day to allow for thorough terminal cleaning
➐ Supplies : Minimize the number of supplies / carts in the hallway which may easily be contaminated . Efforts must be made to take in all supplies needed for patient care upon initial entry into a C . auris positive patient room , thereby , minimizing the potential to contaminate supply carts .
Since its emergence more than a decade ago , the spread of C . auris across the world remains unabated . As we continue to see cases , we must remain vigilant in our efforts to mitigate C . auris transmission with strict adherence to IPC policies and procedures .
Susan Singh , MPH CIC , is an infection preventionist with ECRI .
References :
Eyre DW , Sheppard AE , Madder H , Moir I , Moroney R , Quan TP , Griffiths D , George S , Butcher L , Morgan M , Newnham R , Sunderland M , Clarke T , Foster D , Hoffman P , Borman AM , Johnson EM , Moore G , Brown CS , Walker AS , Peto TEA , Crook DW , Jeffery KJM . A Candida auris Outbreak and Its Control in an Intensive Care Setting . N Engl J Med . 2018 Oct 4 ; 379 ( 14 ): 1322-1331 . doi : 10.1056 / NEJMoa1714373 . PMID : 30281988 .
Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report ( MMWR ) Candida auris Outbreak in a COVID-19 Specialty Care Unit — Florida , July – August 2020 Weekly / January 15 , 2021 / 70 ( 2 ); 56-57 .
Schelenz , S ., Hagen , F ., Rhodes , J . L . et al . First hospital outbreak of the globally emerging Candida auris in a European hospital . Antimicrob Resist Infect Control 5 , 35 ( 2016 ).
https :// doi . org / 10.1186 / s13756-016-0132-5 Smith J , et al . 2019 Clinical Microbiology Reviews . Welsh RM , Bentz ML , Shams A , Houston H , Lyons A , Rose LJ , Litvintseva AP . Survival , Persistence , and Isolation of the Emerging Multidrug-Resistant Pathogenic Yeast Candida auris on a Plastic Health Care Surface . J . Clin . Microbiol . 2017 , 55 , 2996-3005 .
Widmann JE , Kirchhoff L , Brüggemann Y , Todt D , Steinmann J , Steinmann E . Persistence of Pathogens on Inanimate Surfaces : A Narrative Review . Microorganisms . 2021 Feb 9 ; 9 ( 2 ): 343 . doi : 10.3390 / microorganisms9020343 . PMID : 33572303 ; PMCID : PMC7916105
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