Objective: Understand current Candidozyma auris prevention practices in the United States and identify opportunities to improve containment.
Design: Electronic survey.
Setting: Acute care hospitals.
Participants: Society for Healthcare Epidemiology (SHEA) Research Network (SRN) facilities located in the United States.
Methods: REDCap survey distributed via email exploring knowledge and perceptions related to C. auris screening methods, prevention practices, barriers to prevention, and tools needed to improve containment.
Results: Responses were received from 51/96 (53%) U.S.-based SRN facilities, with 80% identifying as teaching hospitals. Two-thirds of facilities (34/51) reported first-hand experience with C. auris, with 15/34 also experiencing at least one C. auris outbreak. Routine C. auris screening occurred in 47% (24/51) of facilities. C. auris prevention practices commonly included patient isolation, signage to notify staff of isolation status, and placement in a single patient room. When asked to identify barriers to control of C. auris at their facility, participants ranked lack of communication between healthcare facilities, lack of infection control at outside healthcare facilities, and lack of training as the top three barriers. C. auris prevention resources or tools perceived to be most helpful in their facility included effective decolonization regimens, standardized protocols for C. auris screening, and improved communication between healthcare facilities.
Conclusion: SRN facilities commonly used isolation practices to prevent the spread of C. auris. Development of additional tools to improve prevention practices should target effective decolonization strategies and standardized screening protocols to support C. auris containment.