Candida auris outbreak: mortality, interventions and cost of sustaining control
No Thumbnail Available
Authors
Taori, Surabhi K.
Khonyongwa, Kirstin
Hayden, Iain
Athukorala, GID Dushyanthie AD
Letters, Andrew
Fife, Amanda
Desai, Nergish
Borman, Andrew M.
Check for full-text access
Issue Date
2019
Type
Article
Language
Keywords
Alternative Title
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Candida auris has recently emerged as a global cause of multidrug resistant fungal outbreaks. An outbreak occurred at a tertiary care center in London in 2016. Transmission characteristics, interventions, patient outcomes and cost of resources are described. METHODS: Outbreak interventions included patient isolation, contact screening, single-use equipment, environmental screening and decontamination, staff education, and enhanced surveillance. Risk factors for infection were recorded. Survival probabilities of patients with C. auris and other Candida bloodstream infections (BSI) were calculated. Antifungal susceptibility and epidemiological typing were performed. Actual and opportunity costs of interventions were determined. RESULTS: 34 patients acquired the organism including 8 with BSI. Clinical infection was significantly associated with prolonged hospital stay, haemodialysis and antifungal therapy. Variable susceptibility to amphotericin and the triazoles was seen and isolates clustered with the South Asian strains. No significant difference was detected in the survival probabilities of C. auris BSI compared to other candidemias. Outbreak control cost in excess of £1 million and £58,000/month during the subsequent year. CONCLUSION: C. auris outbreaks can be controlled by a concerted infection control strategy but can be expensive. Transmission maybe prolonged due to patient movements and unidentified transmission mechanisms.
Description
Citation
Publisher
License
Journal
Journal of Infection
Volume
79
Issue
6