Candida auris or C. auris is an emerging, multidrug resistant fungus that has been linked to outbreaks in healthcare facilities, including hospitals. The fungus can survive on surfaces for weeks, making it challenging to control its spread. According to the CDC, hospitals are particularly vulnerable to C. auris infections due to a patient’s underlying medical conditions or weakened immune systems. Hospitals have become a major source of C. auris outbreaks, with multiple facilities reporting cases of the fungus in recent months.
Candida auris is a serious healthcare threat
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this fungus can survive on surfaces such as hospital equipment, furniture, and medical devices even after routine cleaning and disinfection. The fungus can also spread through contact with contaminated surfaces, making it important to implement effective environmental cleaning and disinfection procedures.
Managing the spread in healthcare facilities
The CDC is urging healthcare providers, hospital staff and patients to remain vigilant and to take steps to prevent and control the spread of Candida auris in healthcare facilities. To prevent the spread of C. auris in healthcare facilities, the CDC recommends the following infection control measures:
- ∙ Screening patients for C. auris upon admission to a healthcare facility and implementing isolation precautions if the patient is found to be infected.
- ∙ Implementing contact precautions for patients with C. auris infection or colonization
- ∙ Conducting thorough environmental cleaning and disinfection of patient rooms and common areas using an EPA registered disinfectant with activity against C. auris
∙ Ensuring proper hand hygiene among healthcare workers and patients
Furniture that helps hospitals fight back
How can hospitals fight back against this emerging threat? Kwalu furniture is made from a unique material that has been clinically proven to inhibit the growth of bacteria, viruses, and fungi on its surfaces. This material is and has been shown to be effective against a wide range of pathogens, including C. auris. By using Kwalu furniture in healthcare facilities, the growth and transmission of the fungus can be disrupted. Additionally, Kwalu furniture is easy to clean and disinfect, which is essential in preventing the fungus spread. The furniture’s non- porous surface makes it difficult for pathogens to penetrate, and it can be easily cleaned with standard hospital disinfectants.