[Consensus of experts on healthcare-associated infection prevention and control of Candida auris]

Abstract

Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen, its infections have been reported in over 50 countries and regions to date. It has gradually become a global public health concern. Characterized by challenges in identification, high drug resistance, treatment difficulties, and rapid transmission, Candida auri is prone to causing hospital infection outbreaks. Given the varying recommendations in domestic and international guidelines for preventing and controlling Candida auris healthcare-associated infection, the National Medical Institution Infection Surveillance System of China, the Healthcare-associated Infection Control Branch of Chinese Preventive Medicine Association, and the National Training Center of Hospital Infection in China jointly organized a panel of national experts. Through reviewing global literature, evidence-based medical research, and experiences in curbing outbreaks and adopting the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine's levels of evidence classification criteria and grading of recommendation strength, and after discussion and voting by the expert panel, 14 recommendation statements consensus on the prevention and control of Candida auris healthcare-associated infection were ultimately formulated. Key contents include an overview of Candida auris outbreaks, microbiological characteristics, laboratory identification, epidemiology, healthcare facility infection prevention and control strategies and specific measures, outbreak investigation and control protocols, and clinical management. The consensus aims to recommend practical and effective prevention and control measures, standardizing and enhancing the capacity to combat Candida auris healthcare-associated infection.