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Outbreak of Candidozyma auris: a challenge for the infection control team

Heera Hassan1, Anil Sathyadas1, Aravind Reghukumar1

  • 1Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

GMS Hygiene and Infection Control
|July 22, 2026
PubMed

Insights

A multidrug-resistant fungus, Candidozyma auris, caused an outbreak in an Indian ICU. Strict infection control measures successfully contained the spread, emphasizing the need for rapid response to fungal threats.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Mycology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • Candidozyma auris (C. auris) is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen causing significant healthcare-associated infections.
  • Outbreaks of C. auris require prompt identification and implementation of robust infection control strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To describe an outbreak of C. auris in an intensive care unit (ICU) in Thiruvananthapuram, India.
  • To evaluate the effectiveness of infection control interventions against C. auris transmission.

Main Methods:

  • Case identification and patient screening for C. auris.
  • Implementation of cohorting, enhanced hand hygiene, and environmental disinfection.
  • Identification of the fungal pathogen using MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry.

Main Results:

  • Five patients were affected by C. auris, including bloodstream infections and asymptomatic colonization.
  • Lapses in hand hygiene were identified as the probable transmission route.
  • No new cases were reported two months post-intervention, indicating successful containment.

Conclusions:

  • Early species-level identification of non-albicans Candida is crucial for effective outbreak management.
  • Enhanced laboratory capacity, staff training, and strict infection control are vital for preventing and responding to fungal threats in critical care settings.

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