Multidrug-resistant Candida auris: PHAC interim guidance

The Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) has recently been informed of a case of multidrug-resistant Candida auris. Whole genome sequence analysis performed by the National Microbiology Laboratory (NML) was consistent with C. auris. Further analyses to compare the isolate with global strains are pending. A case report will be published in the Canada Communicable Disease Report (CCDR).

Candida auris is an emerging fungal infection that can cause invasive healthcare-associated infections, including bloodstream infections, wound infections, and otitis media. It was first reported in Japan in 2009 as an infectious agent in a patient’s ear. Information available to date indicates that cases of C. auris have occurred in at least nine other countries including Korea, India, Pakistan, Kuwait, South Africa, Venezuela, Colombia, the United Kingdom and the United States.

This emerging AMR pathogen may have potential implications for healthcare facilities and for pubic health laboratories. C. auris can be transmitted in healthcare settings with reports of severe illness in hospitalized patients.  Of concern is that C. auris can persist on surfaces in healthcare environment sand may spread between patients, unlike most other Candida species. The precise mode of transmission is unknown. Adherence to infection prevention and control practices and environmental cleaning may help prevent transmission in healthcare settings. Some C. auris strains have shown resistance to all 3 major classes of antifungal medicines (i.e., are MDR).

You can read about the first reported case in this CCDR article.