C. auris Contamination of Healthcare Workers' Gear Occurs in Nearly One-Third of Encounters
A prospective study of over 1,000 healthcare worker-patient interactions found that the multidrug-resistant yeast Candidozyma auris transferred to gloves or gowns in 29% of cases. This rate exceeded those for MRSA and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales. Transfer was more likely when workers touched patients directly, and patients colonized at multiple body sites posed a much higher risk.
The study tracked over 1,000 healthcare worker-patient interactions across nine U.S. acute care hospitals from July 2022 to May 2024. Researchers sampled multiple body sites including axillae, groin, finger webs, and nares, plus environmental surfaces in patient rooms. C. auris transfer to protective gear occurred in 29% of encounters, notably higher than MRSA's 16% and carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales' 10% rates from comparable studies.
Direct patient contact tripled the odds of transfer, and patients colonized at five body sites were 15 times more likely to contaminate gloves or gowns than those with single-site colonization. The yeast, first reported in the U.S. in 2016, reached 6,304 annual cases by 2024, straining hospital resources through isolation and specialized cleaning requirements.
This study's findings could reshape hospital infection control practices, as C. auris transfer rates substantially exceed those of better-known pathogens. Healthcare facilities may need to reassess contact precautions and cleaning protocols, potentially increasing operational costs. Patients with compromised immune systems and those in long-term care facilities could face heightened exposure risks. The rising case count suggests this emerging threat may demand greater attention from public health agencies and hospital administrators, though the link between gear contamination and actual patient infections remains uncertain.