Enhanced laboratory surveillance identified Candida auris<\/em> in postacute care facilities in Orange County, California in 2019<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n <\/b><\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n TUESDAY, Sept. 7, 2021 (HealthDay News) — The multidrug-resistant yeast, Candida auris<\/em>, can be identified and contained with enhanced laboratory surveillance and prompt investigation with infection prevention and control (IPC) support, according to a study published online Sept. 7 in the Annals of Internal Medicine<\/em>.<\/p>\n Ellora N. Karmarkar, M.D., from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and colleagues examined the prevalence of C. auris<\/em> and IPC practices in three long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs) and 14 ventilator-capable skilled-nursing facilities (vSNFs) serving adult patients in Orange County, California, in 2019.<\/p>\n The first case of C. auris <\/em>was identified in February 2019 in a patient in an LTACH. The researchers found that initial point prevalence surveys (PPSs) at 17 facilities identified 44 patients with C. auris<\/em> in three LTACHs and six vSNFs (100 and 43 percent, respectively); the first bloodstream infection was reported in May 2019. A total of 182 patients with C. auris<\/em> were identified by October 2019 by serial PPSs and discharge testing. All 81 isolates that were sequenced were clade III and highly related. Gaps in hand hygiene, transmission-based precautions, and environmental cleaning were identified on assessment of IPC. By October 2019, the outbreak was contained to two facilities.<\/p>\n “Implementing enhanced laboratory surveillance and rapid, countywide investigation to assess the burden of C. auris<\/em> and strengthen IPC practices in high-risk facilities limited transmission in Orange County through 2019,” the authors write. “Our approach can inform future containment efforts for C. auris<\/em> and other emerging multidrug-resistant organisms, in California and nationwide.”<\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n Editorial (subscription or payment may be required)<\/a><\/p>\n <\/i><\/p>\n