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Dbeibo L, Beeler C, Clark L, Zondor M, Sartino C, Relich RF, Hazen D, Lyons K, Kelley K, Webb D, Saysana M, Kara A. Candida auris outbreak at a tertiary care hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Am J Infect Control 2024:S0196-6553(24)00136-6. [PMID: 38537678 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.03.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Candida auris (C auris) is a fungal pathogen that has the potential for environmental persistence leading to outbreaks in health care settings. There has been a worldwide surge in C auris outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this report, we describe an outbreak of C auris, its control, patient outcomes, and lessons learned. METHODS The outbreak occurred in a 600-bed adult academic tertiary care hospital. Contact tracing was initiated immediately after identification of the index case and surveillance testing for C auris was obtained from patients who were exposed to the index case. Infection prevention measures were closely followed. RESULTS A total of 560 cultures were performed on 453 unique patients between August 2021 and December 2021. Of those, 31 cultures (5.5%) were positive for C auris; 27 (87.1%) were colonized with C auris, while 4 patients developed a clinical infection (12.9%). The secondary attack rate was 6.8% (31/453). The 30-day all-cause mortality rate for all patients who tested positive for C auris was 9.7%. DISCUSSION C auris can cause protracted outbreaks that result in colonization and invasive infections. Multidisciplinary work to improve adherence to infection prevention measures as well as targeted admission screening are essential to limit outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lana Dbeibo
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN.
| | - Cole Beeler
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN; Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Lauren Clark
- Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Megan Zondor
- Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Catherine Sartino
- Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Ryan F Relich
- Division of Clinical Microbiology, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Dana Hazen
- Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Kathy Lyons
- Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Kristen Kelley
- Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Douglas Webb
- Division of Infection Prevention, Indiana University Health, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Michele Saysana
- Department of Pediatrics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Areeba Kara
- Division of General Internal Medicine and Geriatrics, Department of Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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