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Candida auris (C. auris) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
How long has C. auris been a public health problem?
C. auris was first described in Japan in 2009. The first patient with C. auris in the United States became ill in 2013, and the first patient identified in Illinois became sick in 2016. Although C. auris was discovered relatively recently, it has spread quickly and caused infections in most U.S. states. It has been detected in many other parts of the world as well.
How is C. auris spread?
C. auris is spread in health care facilities through contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment or from physical contact with a person who has C. auris. Good hand hygiene and environmental cleaning in health care facilities are important because C. auris can live on surfaces for several weeks.
Who is most likely to get C. auris infection?
Most people with C. auris infections are already sick from other medical conditions. Patients who have stayed in a health care facility, especially long-term care facilities, have a central venous catheter or other lines or tubes entering their body, or have previously received antibiotics or antifungal medications have the highest risk of infection.
What are the symptoms of infection?
Symptoms of C. auris infection depend on the part of the body that is infected. C. auris can cause many types of infection, such as bloodstream infection, wound infection, and urine infection. Some people may have C. auris on places such as their skin but do not have an infection; this is called colonization. Being colonized increases your risk of developing an infection.
What should I do if I think I may have a C. auris infection?
Healthy people usually don’t get C. auris infections. A laboratory test is needed to determine whether a patient has a C. auris infection. You should seek medical care if you are concerned about a C. auris infection.
How are C. auris infections treated?
Most C. auris infections are treatable with antifungal drugs called echinocandins. However, some C. auris infections have been resistant to all three main classes of antifungal medications, making them more difficult to treat. Treatment decisions should be made in consultation with a health care provider experienced in treating patients with fungal infections.
How can C. auris infections be prevented?
For C. auris infections to be prevented, transmission of the yeast among patients and between patients, health care personnel, and environmental surfaces needs to be stopped. Health care facilities, health care professionals, patients, and friends and family members of patients can all take steps to prevent the transmission of C. auris.
What should I do when visiting a friend or loved one with C. auris in a health care facility?
It is important for visitors to follow the facility’s directions. Visitors should clean their hands with hand sanitizer or soap and water before and after touching the patient or medical devices. Ask and remind health care personnel to wash their hands.
What is IDPH doing to address C. auris?
IDPH, along with local health departments, aids health care facilities with C. auris case investigations, outbreak response, surveillance, and prevention efforts.
