The Illinois Department of Public Health is warning Kane County residents about the emerging multidrug-resistant fungus called Candida auris (C. auris) that is causing healthcare-associated infections around the world, including the U.S. and in Illinois.

“Recent media attention is raising awareness of this multidrug-resistant fungus,” the IDPH said in a news release. “While this infection is still rare in the U.S. and most people are at low risk of getting infected, IDPH is committed to ensuring Illinoisans and health care providers have the tools they need to stay safe.”

IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike said fungal infections caused by C. auris have the potential to cause serious illness, are often resistant to standard medications, and continue to spread in health care settings.

“There are steps physicians, health care facilities, and individuals can take to avoid infection and prevent the spread of disease, and IDPH encourages all Illinoisans to get educated and stay safe,” Ezike said.

IDPH and local health departments are working with health care facilities to implement and maintain infection control practices to reduce transmission  by cleaning and disinfecting environmental surfaces and shared equipment, and enforcing hand hygiene, gloves, gowns.

Public health officials are conducting surveillance for clinical cases and also screening individuals in health care facilities where clinical cases have been found.

“These steps allow us to identify patients who may have come in contact with C. auris,” Ezike said.

In an effort to reduce further spread, public health officials have been in more than 100 health care facilities to actively investigate every clinical case to identify any possible exposures.

How Kane Residents Can Stay Safe

There are steps individuals can take when receiving medical treatment, whether it is in a hospital, a long-term care facility, or a clinic to help protect themselves from infection.

• When a doctor, nurse, or other health care worker enters the room, observe as they clean their hands.
• Patients and loved ones should make sure their hands are clean, as well.
• Patients should feel comfortable inquiring if medical equipment was cleaned after being used on another patient (e.g. stethoscope or blood pressure cuff).
• Check if the room and surfaces have been cleaned with the appropriate disinfectant.
• Ask what steps the facility is taking to reduce the transmission of healthcare-associated infections.

People who get C. auris or other Candidal infections are often patients sick from other medical conditions.

There is increasing evidence that the spread of C. auris may be particularly high in post-acute and long-term care facilities, especially long-term acute care hospitals and skilled nursing facilities that take care of patients on ventilators.

Patients at higher risk for developing C. auris infection are those who require invasive medical care, including ventilators for breathing support, feeding tubes, central venous catheters, and also broad-spectrum antibiotics.

Symptoms of C. auris infection may not differ from those of other infections, and they vary depending on the part of the body that is infected.  People can also have C. auris on their body without developing an infection or any symptoms.

Even without symptoms, it is possible to pass C. auris to other people.  People concerned that they may have a fungal infection or healthcare-associated infection should talk to their health care provider immediately.

C. auris can be highly resistant to antifungal drugs, meaning that medications used to treat Candidal infections often do not work against it.  However, most C. auris isolates in Illinois have been treatable with all antifungals.

IDPH has provided clinical alerts to hospitals, providers, and laboratories – providing guidance on testing, patient management, and appropriate infection control recommendations.

IDPH continues to work diligently to educate health care facilities, physicians, and individuals about the judicious use of antimicrobials and actions that can help prevent the spread.

SOURCE: IDPH news release