Candidozyma auris in the United States: insights from the National Association of Long-Term Hospitals Network.

OBJECTIVE

Understand current prevention practices used for Candidozyma auris and identify target areas for improvement.

DESIGN

Electronic survey.

SETTING

Long-term acute care hospitals (LTACHs).

PARTICIPANTS

National Association of Long-Term Hospitals (NALTH) network facilities located in the United States.

METHODS

REDCap survey distributed by email to 56 facilities in the NALTH network exploring knowledge and perceptions related to C. auris screening methods, prevention practices, barriers to prevention, and tools needed to improve containment.

RESULTS

Among 33 responses from 56 LTACHs, 23 (70%) had ever identified at least one case of C. auris infection or colonization. Eighteen (54%) reported identifying cases of C. auris within the past three months and nine (27%) had experienced suspected within-facility transmission. All facilities employed multimodal approaches for C. auris infection prevention. The most frequently reported barriers to effective C. auris prevention included lack of communication between healthcare facilities, inadequate training and education for frontline staff, and lack of compliance with personal protective equipment. The most impactful interventions anticipated to support future C. auris containment included improved communication between facilities at the time of patient transfer and standardized protocols for C. auris decolonization and surveillance.

CONCLUSIONS

Most LTACHs within the NALTH network reported firsthand experience with C. auris. Universally, facilities employed multimodal evidence-based infection prevention and control strategies targeted against C. auris. Future strategies anticipated to improve containment included improving interfacility communication of C. auris colonization status, development of effective decolonization protocols, and standardization of surveillance practices.