Candida auris is a type of yeast that has been causing severe illness in residents and patients in a variety of health care settings, including long term care. Centers are encouraged to review their infection prevention and control programs to identify if updates are needed to address this issue.

The yeast can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body causing serious invasive infections. Unfortunately, this strain of yeast does not respond to common antifungal drugs, making infections more difficult to treat. People at highest risk of infection with this type of yeast are people who have been hospitalized or live in a healthcare facility a long time, have central venous catheters, or other lines or tubes entering their body, or have previously been receiving antibiotics or antifungal medications. Common symptoms include fever and chills that don’t improve after antibiotic treatment for suspected bacterial infection. 

Only laboratory testing can diagnose Candida auris infection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is alerting healthcare facilities to be on the lookout for Candida auris. For more information on Candida auris, refer to the CDC website.