Candida auris guidance update: summary of changes
Published 14 June 2023
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/candida-auris-update-to-management-guidance/candida-auris-guidance-update-summary-of-changes
The Candida auris guidance was first published on 27 June 2016 and last updated on 11 August 2017.
Here is a summary of the changes:
- updated data on laboratory reporting to the Second Generation Surveillance System (SGSS) provided up until 2021 in the introduction; 2022 data will feature in the forthcoming ESPAUR report
- new data from one secondary care provider that offers a screening programme to international patients within the independent sector in the introduction
- investigation in laboratories (section 2) expanded to include sub-sections addressing culture, biochemical, and molecular identification in greater detail; a new chromogenic agar, CHROMagar™ Candida Plus, is suggested as a screening tool for Candida auris
- expanded recommendations for contact screening under 3.2 Screening policies:
- if detected in an intensive care or other vulnerable patient setting, a one-off point prevalence survey is now recommended (previously recommended to screen close contacts)
- if detected on a general ward, screen close contacts and where there is evidence of ongoing transmission, screen the entire ward area
- greater detail provided on the ability of Candida auris to contaminate and persist in the healthcare environment within the infection, prevention, and control section – for example, time to colonisation following exposure, the range of equipment from which Candida auris has been detected during outbreaks and survival times on surfaces
- additional recommendations for reusable patient care equipment, patient movement, and surgical procedures for those colonised or infected with Candida auris within the infection, prevention, and control section