---
title: "Candida Auris: Facts And Preparedness"
date_published: "2021-07-28"
date_modified: "2023-10-18"
permalink: "https://www.steramist.com/our-company/blogs-insights/candida-auris-facts-and-preparedness/"
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  title: "Candida Auris: Facts And Preparedness - SteraMist"
  description: "[[Candida auris (C. auris) is often resistant to antifungal drugs used to treat Candida infections and can cause outbreaks in hospital settings that have…"
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***Candida auris (C. auris)* is often resistant to antifungal drugs used to treat Candida infections and can cause outbreaks in hospital settings that have resulted in **mortality rates as high as 72%**.**

***Candida* *auris* PERSISTS ON SURFACES** IN HEALTHCARE ENVIRONMENTS

C. *auris* can survive on a wide range of surfaces, both dry and moist, for up to 14 days.1 C. *auris* has been cultured from multiple critical surfaces in patient rooms, including (but not limited to)2:

**HIGH TOUCH SURFACES**

- Beds & Bedrails
- Tables & Seating
- Floors
- Remotes
- Soap Dispensers

![](https://www.steramist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/C-auris-08.png)

**OUT-OF-REACH SURFACES**

- Air Ducts & Vents
- Windows
- Curtains & Dividers
- Mounted Electronics
- Lights and Switches

![](https://www.steramist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/C-auris-07.png)

**MEDICAL EQUIPMENT SURFACES**

- Glucometers
- Blood Pressure Cuffs
- EKG Machines
- Defibrillators
- Patient Monitors

![](https://www.steramist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/C-auris-06.png)

Each case of candidemia results in an additional 3 to 13 days of hospitalization and costs between $6,000 and $29,000. In addition, the current pandemic may provide "ideal conditions" for outbreaks of C. *auris* in hospital ICUs. *C. auris* and SARS-CoV-2 have been found on hospital surfaces, including air conditioner ducts, windows, and hospital floors.

Patients and residents in healthcare facilities often remain colonized with C. *auris* for many months*.* Even after the acute infection has been treated and resolved. It can be shed into the environment and linger there for weeks, which **makes infection control both an immediate and an ongoing** issue.

###### **STERAMIST IS YOUR COMPLETE DISINFECTION SOLUTION**

**CDC and EPA recommend healthcare facilities with *C. auris* cases use disinfectants on EPA's List K (efficacy against C. *difficile* spores)****2****.**

Designed to reach areas where C. *auris* and other pathogens may hide, the dry mist of SteraMist's [i](https://tomimist.com/about/ihp/)[onized Hydrogen Peroxide (iHP™)](https://www.steramist.com/the-science/technology/) provides a quick, high-log kill to help stop outbreaks and prevent them before they occur.

[EPA List K: EPA Reg. 90150-2 Binary Ionization Technology (BIT) Solution](https://www.epa.gov/pesticide-registration/list-k-antimicrobial-products-registered-epa-claims-against-clostridium)

1Dyer, T. COVID Unleases the 'Lurking Scourge' Candida auris. IC Today. 2020. Vol. 24, Issue 10. [https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-unleashes-the-lurking-scourge-candida-auris](https://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/view/covid-unleashes-the-lurking-scourge-candida-auris). 2Sexton, D. J. et al. Evaluation of nine surface disinfectants against Candida auris using a qualitative disk carrier method: EPA SOP-MB-35. Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology; 2020, 41, 1219-2221.