Candida auris is Inactivated by Germicidal UV Light

What is Candida auris?

One thing you can say about Candida auris is that it gets around. It was first identifiedopen_in_new in Japan in 2009 and has since spread the world over, arriving in the United States in 2016, with an increase in cases each following year. The CDC has taken note of this dramatic spread and is genuinely concernedopen_in_new, deeming C. auris as an urgent threat.

Candida auris is a yeast, or a type of fungus that causes a wide range of severe infections in the human body, from the bloodstream to the ear canal to open wounds. It appears as shiny and smooth grayish colonies on the areas it infects. When viewed under a microscope, it appears elliptical in shape.

Preventing the spread of Candida auris

One of the disturbing facts about this pathogen is its well-known resistance to many existing antifungal drugs. It is considered a “potential global health riskopen_in_new” because of the high rate of severe infections and even death. The CDC observed in 2021 that some strains of the fungus were completely immuneopen_in_new to every known medication for treating fungal infections.

C. auris can spread by the following means:

• Person-to-person contact
• Contact with objects or surfaces that are contaminated by the fungus

C. auris can be prevented by:

• Frequent and prolonged hand washing (soap and water and/or hand sanitizer)
• The proper use of gowns and gloves by healthcare personnel
• Extra precautions taken around someone infected with it
• Placing a patient diagnosed in a private room
• Proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces in healthcare facilities (Read more about adding UV disinfection below.)

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Candida auris: Classification & UV-C Dose for Inactivation

Organism:	Alternate Name:	Type:	Disease:	UV Dose*:
Candida auris	C. auris	Fungus	Candidiasis (fungal infection)	32 mJ/cm2

* Nominal Ultraviolet dosage necessary to inactivate better than 99% of microorganisms. See sources below.

People at High Risk of Infection

Generally speaking, C. auris does not infect people in good health. They may be carriers of the lethal fungus on their skin or clothes, but unless they have pre-existing medical conditions, they most likely won’t become ill. However, those who are sick, have weakened immune systems, have invasive medical devices, or have resided in healthcare facilities or nursing homes for long durations of time are at much higher risk of contracting it. Someone who becomes infected with it is believed to have that “colonizationopen_in_new” for the duration of his or her life.

You’re more likely to contract an infection from Candida auris if you:

• Have contact with an infected or colonized individual
• Are immune-compromised
• Spend long amounts of time in a healthcare facility
• Take antibiotics
• Have an invasive medical device (tubes, catheters, etc.)
• Have had recent surgery or a blood transfusion
• Have diabetes or kidney disease

Candida auris Symptoms

The most common symptoms associated with Candida auris are as follows:

Possible complications from Candida auris

Some Candida auris infections can cause:

• Bloodstream infection
• Multi-organ dysfunction
• Sepsis
• Death

Sources on Candida auris

The above information can be found on the following pages.

• CDC: About Candida aurisopen_in_new
• Virginia Dept of Health: Candida auris infectionopen_in_new
• Infection Control Today: Special Report on Candida aurisopen_in_new
• Infection Control Today: Preparing for a Candida auris Outbreak in long-term careopen_in_new
• Better Health Channel: Candida aurisopen_in_new
• National Library of Medicine: Candida aurisopen_in_new
• NYS Dept. of Health: Get the facts about Candida aurisopen_in_new

Dosage Source

Sensitivity of Bacteria, Protozoa, Viruses, and Other Microorganisms to Ultraviolet Radiation. Journal of Research of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Volume 126, Article No. 126021. August 20, 2021.

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