Statutory notification alert
- Currently C. auris is not a notifiable disease in Western Australia.
- As this is an emerging pathogen of significant concern, please inform the Healthcare Associated Infection Unit (HAIU) via email to HISWA@health.wa.gov.au if this pathogen is identified.
Public health management
Important information
- Infectious agent: Candida auris (C. auris) is a yeast, often resistant to antifungal medication, causing invasive infections, most commonly in hospitalised patients with significant co -morbidities
- Transmission: Person to person by direct contact with another person or their environment infected or colonised with C. auris.
- Incubation period: unknown.
- Infectious period: unknown, persons colonised or infected with C. auris must be considered infectious indefinitely.
- Case exclusion: Not applicable.
- Contact exclusion: Not applicable.
- Treatment: antifungal treatment as recommended by an infectious diseases physician or clinical microbiologist.
- Immunisation: none available.
- Case follow-up: is conducted by hospitals, and the Communicable Disease Control Directorate as required.
Public health action
Information for GPs and other healthcare providers
- C. auris has been detected worldwide including Western Australia and is responsible for several large hospital outbreaks in intensive care units and other critical care settings.
- C. auris is difficult to distinguish from other Candida species, requiring enhanced laboratory detection methods.
- Please be aware of possibility of C. auris infection in patients with candidiasis unresponsive to treatment, especially in those previously hospitalised in critical care hospital settings outside of Australia.
- Candida auris Interim Infection Prevention and Control Requirements (PDF 165 KB).
Management in Healthcare facilities
- Contact precautions in single room with private ensuite for colonised or infected patients.
- Environmental cleaning to be done with a chlorine-based disinfectant at a concentration of 1000 ppm (0.1%).
Notifiable disease data and reports
C. auris is not currently notifiable.
Last reviewed: 28-10-2019
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