Skin and hard surface disinfection against Candida auris – What we know today

Abstract

Candida auris has emerged as a global healthcare threat, displaying resistance to important healthcare antifungal therapies. Infection prevention and control protocols have become paramount in reducing transmission of C. auris in healthcare, of which cleaning and disinfection plays an important role. Candida albicans is used as a surrogate yeast for yeasticidal claims of disinfection products, but reports have been made that sensitivity to disinfectants by C. auris differs from its surrogate. In this review, we aimed to compile the information reported for products used for skin and hard surface disinfection against C. auris in its planktonic or biofilm form. A comparison was made with other Candida species, and information were gathered from laboratory studies and observations made in healthcare settings.

Candida auris Outbreaks: Current Status and Future Perspectives

“…A wide variety of products and experimental methods have been tested to disinfect environmental surfaces contaminated with C. auris [107]. However, the findings of these studies have not always been consistent [108]. Several studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of Chlor-Clean and Haz-Tab, which are chlorine-based products with concentrations of 1000 ppm and 10,000 ppm, respectively, in eradicating clinical isolates of C. auris within 3 min of contact [109].…”

Global Health Alert: Racing to Control Antimicrobial Resistant Candida auris and Waste Using UVC LED Technology

“…UVC LEDs may be a feasible and scalable method for environmental disinfection with technical applications in water, air, surface, and waste disinfection [48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55][56][57]. This review provides a comprehensive analysis and critical discussion of the relevant literature on the global public health threat and economic disruption relative to the rapid spread of C. auris, the feasibility of applying UVC LED disinfection technology to environmental services and waste management strategies in healthcare facilities, and the challenges to implementing robust infection prevention protocols and surveillance systems.…”

“…UVC disinfection is also specifically effective at inactivating C. auris on hard surfaces, which is common in healthcare settings [49,[51][52][53][55][56][57]215]. The use of UVC technology as an adjuvant disinfection modality for C. auris may be an advantageous environmental mitigation strategy [26].…”

“…While there is no standard log reduction requirement for C. auris, at least a 3-log10 reduction (99.9% reduction) is suggested to most likely be clinically effective [57]. A review of several UVC exposure parameters and devices found that UVC was clinically effective against C. auris when using proper conditions [56]. In lab testing, a mobile UVC tower equipped with high-performance bulbs at the 254 nm wavelength used for a continuous 7-minute exposure period in a patient-room-sized test chamber demonstrated 99.97% inactivation of C. auris [52].…”