Laboratory Information for C. auris

For Health Care Providers

At a glance

  • Report possible or confirmed cases of C. auris also known as Candidozyma auris immediately.
  • There are no phenotypic characteristics to easily distinguish C. auris from other Candida species.
  • The most reliable way to identify C. auris is MALDI-TOF MS.
  • Real-time PCR is the preferred method for detecting colonization.
Microscope.

Laboratory safety and risks

Laboratories should take safety steps when working with known or suspected Candida auris (also known as Candidozyma auris) isolates.

Safety Guidelines for Working with C. auris Isolates
Photo of a Petri dish with C. auris
Identification of C. auris
Resources for healthcare and laboratory personnel to aid in the identification of C. auris.

Identifying and confirming C. auris

Early detection of C. auris is critical to limiting its spread. There are no phenotypic characteristics that can easily distinguish C. auris from other Candida species. The most reliable way to identify C. auris is matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). There are several alternative methods to identify C. auris.

Laboratory worker putting test 96 well plate into real-time PCR machine
Real-Time PCR Based Identification
Follow this guidance for PCR based identification of C.Auris with Applied Biosystems 7500.
Candida auris on CHROMagar Candida, here, for example, displays multiple color morphs.
Procedure for Isolation of C. auris
Follow this SOP to isolate Candida auris with Sabouraund Salt Dulcitol Broth

Antifungal susceptibility testing

Perform antifungal susceptibility testing for C. auris following Infectious Disease Sociate of America (IDSA) guidelines. The Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) has not yet defined breakpoints for C. auris but CDC has established tentative breakpoints based on expert opinion and breakpoints established for closely related species that can be used in the interim.

Medical illustration of C. auris
Antifungal Susceptibility Testing for C. auris
Information on antifungal susceptibility testing and interpretation for C. auris

Surveillance

Healthcare facilities are encouraged to begin screening patients for C. auris after the initial case is identified. Typically skin swab specimens are tested. There are several methods to detect colonization but Real-time PCR is preferred.

Medical illustration of C. auris
Guidance for Detection of C. auris Colonization
Laboratory guidance to detect C. auris colonization in patients.

Reporting results

Report any possible or confirmed cases immediately to the facility's infection control and prevention department. Follow facility processes for reporting to the state or local public health department.

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Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)