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Candida auris (C. auris)
Candida auris, also known as C. auris, is a type of yeast that can cause serious infections in humans, including bloodstream or wound infections. C. auris can also live on the skin or other body parts without making a person sick, which is called colonization. Being colonized may increase the risk of developing an infection. People with active infections and colonization can spread the yeast to another person. The majority of cases are among patients currently in or have recently resided in skilled nursing facilities and long-term acute care hospitals. Healthy people usually don’t get C. auris infections.
C. auris
Causes serious infections
C. auris can cause bloodstream infections and even death, particularly in hospital patients and nursing home residents with serious medical problems. More than 1 in 3 individuals with invasive C. auris infection (e.g., an infection that affects the blood, heart, or brain) die.
Is difficult to treat
Antifungal medicines commonly used to treat other fungal infections often don’t work on C. auris.
Is becoming more common
C. auris has spread quickly and caused infections across the United States, including Illinois. From 2016 – 2024, 5,685 C. auris cases were reported in Illinois. This includes 2,210 clinical cases (i.e., people with active infections) and 3,475 colonized cases.
Has caused outbreaks in health care settings
For this reason, it is important to quickly identify C. auris in patients so that health care facilities can take precautions to stop its spread.
There is a risk of acquiring a health care-associated infection (HAI) in all health care facilities – a risk of C. auris, carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), and others. The risk of infection from exposure to these germs is heightened for medically fragile individuals and those needing medical devices, such as ventilators or tracheostomy tubes. These individuals often reside in or are patients in a skilled nursing care facility.
It is not always known where a person becomes infected with C. auris. For example, a resident of a nursing home that cares for ventilated patients may transfer to a hospital. While at the hospital, the individual is tested and is found to be positive for C. auris. It is unclear if that individual was infected at the nursing home or hospital. Listing health care facilities where a clinical case of C. auris has been diagnosed would not be comprehensive of all facilities where C. auris or other HAIs exist.
IDPH’s primary concern is for the health and safety of all patients and long-term care residents. IDPH and local health departments are working with health care facilities to implement and maintain infection control practices to reduce the transmission of bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other organisms that can cause illness. This includes cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces and shared equipment, practicing hand hygiene, wearing gloves and gowns when needed, and more. Public health officials are tracking cases and may also screen individuals (swabbing the skin of patients/residents) in health care facilities where C. auris cases have been found.
IDPH encourages patients and their families to talk with their provider and the facility where they seek care about the potential risk of HAIs, including C. auris, and what the facility is doing to reduce the risk of such infections. People who are colonized or have an infection with C. auris and their loved ones can help prevent the spread of this important organism by:
- Washing hands (or using alcohol-based hand sanitizer) frequently and as directed by the health care team
- Wearing gown and gloves when providing high touch care (e.g., changing wound dressings or helping with bathing) as directed by the health care team
- Informing new health care providers about previous positive test results before going to a doctor’s office or another health care facility
IDPH is committed to working with facilities to ensure they are aware of the most current guidance on screening for and preventing C. auris and other HAIs.
A skilled nursing facility offers a high level of medical care provided by trained individuals, such as registered nurses (RNs) and physical, speech, and occupational therapists. These services can be necessary over the short term for rehabilitation from an illness or injury, or they may be required over the long term for patients who need care on a frequent or around-the-clock basis due to a chronic medical condition. Examples of skilled nursing services include wound care, intravenous (IV) therapy, injections, physical therapy, and monitoring of vital signs and medical equipment. Skilled nursing facilities also care for ventilator-dependent patients.
