Candidiasis Alert: Rising Cases in March 2023
Protect Your Ears and Combat Candida Auris Infections in the United States
In some cases, Candida auris can also cause bloodstream infections, characterized by fever, chills, pain, and a general feeling of tiredness and malaise.
To protect yourself and others from Candida auris infections, follow these preventative measures:
Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant yeast that can cause invasive infections, particularly in patients with compromised immune systems. To properly identify and diagnose this organism, it is essential to collect appropriate specimens and use accurate diagnostic methods. Here is a step-by-step guide to collect Candida auris specimens and perform diagnostic testing:
a. Blood cultures - for suspected bloodstream infections.
b. Respiratory samples - for suspected lung infections.
c. Urine - for suspected urinary tract infections.
d. Wound swabs or tissue - for suspected skin or soft tissue infections.
e. Sterile body fluids - for suspected infections in normally sterile sites
(e.g., cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid).
Properly label the specimens with the patient's identification, date, and time of collection. Transport specimens to the laboratory as soon as possible, maintaining appropriate storage conditions (room temperature or refrigerated, as needed).
a. Culture - The specimen is inoculated onto selective agar media (e.g., CHROMagar Candida) and incubated at 35-37°C for 24-48 hours. Positive cultures will show colonies of Candida auris, which can be further identified by their characteristic appearance and color. b. Identification - Confirmatory identification of Candida auris can be done using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS), or molecular methods, such as polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and DNA sequencing. c. Antifungal susceptibility testing - This testing is performed to determine the susceptibility of the isolate to various antifungal agents and guide appropriate treatment. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) or the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) guidelines can be followed for testing and interpretation.
a. Blood cultures - Collect two sets of blood cultures (each set consists of
aerobic and anaerobic bottles) from different venipuncture sites, using proper
skin antisepsis.
b. Respiratory samples - Collect sputum, endotracheal aspirate, or
bronchoalveolar lavage samples using sterile containers.
c. Urine - Collect a midstream, clean-catch urine sample in a sterile
container.
d. Wound swabs or tissue - Use a sterile swab to sample the wound or collect a
tissue biopsy.
e. Sterile body fluids - Collect fluids using appropriate sterile techniques,
such as lumbar puncture, thoracentesis, or paracentesis.
The laboratory will report the results of the culture, identification, and antifungal susceptibility testing to the healthcare provider, who will then determine the appropriate treatment course based on these findings.
Our advanced foam sampling swabs are specifically designed for bulk medical swab-sourcing managers from labs, health institutes, IVD diagnostic companies, and hospitals. With these swabs, you can ensure accurate detection and prevention of Candida auris infections in your facility.
