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 Recent media attention is raising awareness of this
multidrug-resistant fungus. 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.
“Our top priority at IDPH is keeping Illinoisans healthy and safe
and we are working hard to ensure residents have the information and
resources they need in response to all emerging health threats,”
said IDPH Director Dr. Ngozi Ezike. “Fungal infections caused by C.
auris, and similar infections, 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.”
IDPH and local health departments are working with health care
facilities to implement and maintain infection control practices to
reduce transmission (cleaning and disinfecting environmental
surfaces and shared equipment, hand hygiene, gloves, gowns, etc.).
Public health officials are conducting surveillance for clinical
cases and also screening individuals (swabbing the skin of
patients/residents) 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. 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.
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.
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When a doctor,
nurse, or other health care worker enters the room, observe as
they clean their hands.
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Patients and
loved ones should make sure their hands are clean as well.
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Patients should
feel comfortable inquiring if medical equipment was cleaned
after being used on another patient (e.g. stethoscope or blood
pressure cuff).
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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.
[ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
HEALTH]
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