What is multidrug-resistant
Candida auris?
Multidrug-resistant
Candida auris is a type of fungus that is hard to treat. It’s resistant to many antifungal medicines, meaning these medicines can’t kill it.
Multidrug-resistant
Candida auris can cause serious infections in people with a weak immune system or who have more than one health condition. Healthy people don’t usually get multidrug-resistant
Candida auris infections.
How does it spread?
Multidrug-resistant
Candida auris can spread on unclean hands and hard surfaces (such as countertops, toilets, and bedrails) that a person who is carrying or infected with the fungus has touched. It can live on hard surfaces for days or even weeks.
How harmful is multidrug-resistant
Candida auris?
As with any other type of infection, multidrug-resistant
Candida auris infection can become serious for some people.
Colonization means that multidrug-resistant
Candida auris lives on people, but doesn’t cause them health problems. For most people, colonization with multidrug-resistant
Candida auris isn’t dangerous and doesn’t make them sick because their immune system keeps it under control.
Infection is when multidrug-resistant
Candida auris causes symptoms of infection such as pain and fever. Some people, such as those with more than one health problem at the same time, may be more at risk of getting this type of infection.
How is multidrug-resistant
Candida auris treated?
People who are colonized with multidrug-resistant
Candida auris don’t usually need any treatment. It may go away on its own.
People infected with multidrug-resistant
Candida auris often get antifungal medicines. Infections can happen in a wound, blood, or urine. It’s very important to finish all the medicine in your prescription, even if you’re feeling better.
What if I’m a patient with multidrug-resistant
Candida auris in a healthcare facility?
Healthcare facilities take extra steps to help stop multidrug-resistant
Candida auris from spreading. Staff may put a sign on the door of your room to remind people to use
contact precautions (such as a gown and gloves) before entering your room.
How can I stop multidrug-resistant
Candida auris from spreading?
To stop multidrug-resistant
Candida auris from spreading in a healthcare facility, do the following every time you leave your room:
- Clean your hands (wash your hands with
soap and water, or clean them with
hand sanitizer). You don’t have to wear gloves.
- Wear a clean, fresh hospital robe (housecoat) over your pajamas or clothes.
- Ask your healthcare provider to cover your wounds with a clean dressing or to change your dressing if it’s dirty or falling off.
- Ask for help cleaning places you have touched, such as your wheelchair, walker, cane, or IV pole.
Is it safe for people to visit me?
Yes, it’s safe for family and friends to visit you in the healthcare facility. Visitors should follow any directions on the sign at your door and from staff.
What can I do at home to stop germs from spreading?
There are simple things you can do at home to stop multidrug-resistant
Candida auris and other infections from spreading:
Clean your hands regularly. This is the best way to stop germs from spreading.
- Don’t share personal items such as towels, clothing, bar soap, or razors.
- Clean your home regularly, especially the kitchen and bathroom. Refer to
Reducing germs and infections in the home for tips to stop germs from spreading.
- Wash clothing using regular laundry soap in the regular wash cycle.
- Clean shared items (such as sports equipment or surfaces like counters) with a household disinfectant.
- See a healthcare provider if you have any signs of an infection, such as pain or fever.
- Cover wounds that are draining with a clean, dry dressing.
- If you have an infection, you may go to work as usual. If you work with or near food, always use safe food handling procedures.
- Tell your healthcare provider if you have multidrug-resistant
Candida auris or have had it in the past.
For 24/7 nurse advice and general health information call Health Link at 811.
