Implementing Practices for Full Therapy Participation for Patients With Candida auris in an Inpatient Rehabilitation...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Disease Management
• Rehabilitation Medicine
• Hospital Infection Control

Background:

• Patients with Candida auris (C. auris) require contact isolation in inpatient rehabilitation.
• Access to therapy gyms is often limited for isolated patients, potentially hindering functional recovery.
• Maintaining infection prevention protocols is crucial while facilitating patient rehabilitation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the effectiveness of a dedicated rehabilitation gym for C. auris patients under contact isolation.
• To evaluate if a specialized gym space can improve patient functional outcomes.
• To determine if dedicated spaces can be managed safely without increasing C. auris transmission.

Main Methods:

• A secondary gym space was converted exclusively for C. auris patients requiring contact isolation.
• Data on functional outcomes and infection transmission rates were collected over 14 months.
• Patient progress was compared between those receiving therapy in a dedicated gym versus in-room therapy.

Main Results:

• Seven C. auris patients used the dedicated gym, while 18 received in-room therapy.
• A higher percentage of patients using the dedicated gym achieved mobility goals (57.1%) compared to in-room therapy (35.7%).
• No instances of C. auris transmission occurred within the facility during the study period.

Conclusions:

• Dedicated therapy spaces can be safely utilized for contact-isolated patients, supporting functional progress.
• The findings suggest potential improvements in mobility outcomes for C. auris patients with access to a dedicated rehabilitation gym.
• Further research is recommended to evaluate the long-term impact of dedicated rehabilitation spaces for infectious patients.