Candida auris (C. auris)

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.