Candida auris Information for Health Professionals:
Case Definition, Required Reporting and Testing, and Infection Prevention Guidance

On this page:
Surveillance Case Definition
Required Disease Reporting and Testing
Infection Prevention and Control
Clinical Features

Surveillance Case Definition

On August 1, 2019, MDH initiated statewide surveillance for Candida auris under 4605.7080 of the Communicable Disease Reporting Rule. MDH has been requesting voluntary submission of possible C. auris isolates since June 2016.

Statewide surveillance enables early detection, prompt implementation of enhanced infection control measures, and a public health response among interconnected facilities, thus helping to prevent and control the disease.

Health care providers and laboratories are required to report detection (infection or colonization) of either C. auris or Candida species that may be C. auris. Suspected or confirmed isolates from any body site (infection or colonization) must be submitted to the MDH Public Health Laboratory (MDH-PHL).

• CDC: Candida auris Case Definitions

Required Disease Reporting and Testing

• Reporting Candida auris
  Candida auris must be reported to MDH within one working day after the test result is finalized.
• Candida auris Isolate Submission and Laboratory Testing
  Clinical materials must be submitted according to these guidelines.
  • C. auris can be misidentified with the phenotypic methods for yeast identification used by most clinical laboratories. More information is provided on identification of C. auris and the MDH-PHL reference testing for isolate identification and confirmation.
• Webex Recording: Reporting Candida auris in Minnesota (27 minutes)
  Recorded on August 14, 2019
  Learn more about C. auris, new statewide reporting requirements, and laboratory identification and testing.

Infection Prevention and Control

Outbreaks of C. auris have occurred in health care settings across the globe, including in the U.S. regions of New York City, New Jersey, Chicago, and Orange County in California. Such outbreaks have been difficult to control due to the ability of C. auris to contaminate the patient care environment and survive on surfaces for weeks to months. Adherence to robust infection control practices is key to containing the spread of C. auris in health care facilities.

• Hospital Admission Screening for CPO and C. auris Colonization
  MDH hospital admission screening recommendations to detect carbapenemase-producing organism (CPO) and Candida auris colonization in Minnesota patients who received health care abroad or in certain U.S. regions in the past 12 months.
• CDC: Tracking C. auris

Infection control precautions

• Place patients with C. auris infection or colonization in a private room using Contact Precautions.
• Patients can remain colonized with C. auris for long periods of time and potentially indefinitely. Discontinuing Contact Precautions for patients with a history of C. auris is generally not recommended. Consult with MDH if you have any questions about the need for Contact Precautions.
  • CDC: Infection Control Guidance: Candida auris
    Comprehensive infection prevention and control recommendations by health care setting.

Environmental cleaning

• C. auris can persist on surfaces in health care environments for prolonged periods of time.
• To reduce the risk of transmission from shared equipment, dedicate as much equipment as possible to patients with C. auris infection or colonization. Ensure thorough cleaning between uses of equipment that must be shared.
  • CDC: Candida auris Environmental Disinfection
• Disinfectants that are routinely used in the health care setting may not be effective against C. auris. CDC recommends use of an EPA registered hospital-grade disinfectant effective against C. auris.
  • EPA’s Registered Antimicrobial Products Effective Against Candida auris [List P]

Clinical Features

• CDC: Candida auris
  CDC information, tracking, and resources on C. auris.
• CDC: Laboratory Information for C. auris
  Information about surveillance, identification, testing, infection prevention and control, and more.
• CDC: Clinical Care of C. auris Infections
  Recommendations for treatment and management of C. auris infections.