The UK Health Security Agency today issued advice over yeast infection which ‘spreads by touch’ and ‘lives in body for years’
Health chiefs have detected a new kind of infection in the UK which is making people ill – with some even ending up in hospital. The Candidozyma auris (C. auris) is a type of yeast which has ‘only just been discovered’.
In an alert this morning the UK Health Security Agency said it has been detected ‘in patients at a number of hospitals in England’.
According to the experts Candidozyma is a family of yeasts that live on the skin and inside the human body. However if it gets into the bloodstream particularly of patients in hospital, then it can cause a serious infection all over the body – and can remain inside a person for years.
This virus was first isolated from the ear of a person in Japan in 2009 but has now been recorded in over 40 countries. It can spread through direct contact with the virus – which can be on infected people or contaminated surfaces.
The UKHSA said: “Some people can carry C. auris without developing any symptoms. This is known as colonisation and means that you are carrying C. auris somewhere on your body, such as your skin, but it has not caused an infection. People who are carrying C. auris do not need to be treated for this, as it is not harmful. However, there are certain actions they should take to reduce the risk of spreading it to other people in healthcare settings (see ‘If you are carrying C. auris’ section below).
“If someone who is carrying C. auris is admitted to hospital, or it spreads to someone else in hospital, there is a risk it may enter their body or bloodstream, for example during an operation or if they have a catheter or drip inserted. This could then cause a C. auris infection. C. auris infections vary in how serious they are.”
The UKHSA said the C. auris infection is mostly being tested for in hospital patients and people may not be aware they are carriers. it said: “C. auris mainly spreads by touch, for example, by touching a surface or an object that has got C. auris on it or having close contact with someone who is carrying or is infected with C. auris. C. auris is difficult to completely remove from the environment, and it is easy to pick up from bed linen, equipment or other people’s hands.
“Currently, most people who will be tested for C. auris are either already in hospital as a patient or are being admitted to hospital.”
The UKHSA said the new information was especially aimed at
- people who have been admitted to hospital where C. auris has been found
- people who are visiting someone who is in a hospital where C. auris has been found
- people who have tested positive for C. auris
What is C. auris
Candidozyma is a family of yeasts that live on the skin and inside the human body. C. auris was first detected in a patient in 2009. C. auris is much less common than other types of yeast, such as Candida albicans (which causes thrush). Since it was first identified, C. auris has been found in patients across the world. C. auris is most commonly found in healthcare settings, such as hospitals.
If you are carrying C. auris
UKHSA said: “If you test positive for C. auris but you do not have signs or symptoms of infection, you are carrying C. auris, also known as colonisation. This means that you have C. auris somewhere on your body, such as your skin, but it has not caused an infection. You will not need any treatment for this, as antifungals are not effective at removing C. auris that you are carrying but may increase the chance of C. auris becoming resistant to treatment. However, you might be managed slightly differently while you are in hospital, for example you might be given a single room to prevent the spread of C. auris to other people.”
When are people tested for C.auris
- if there is an outbreak of C. auris at the hospital you have been admitted to
- if you have been in contact with someone who has C. auris
- if you have had an overnight stay in a hospital outside the UK in the previous year
- if you are being transferred from a UK hospital with a known outbreak of C. auris to another hospital in the UK
If you need to get tested for C. auris, a healthcare professional will take swabs from different parts of your body – often the armpit, groin and nose. This may happen when you are admitted to hospital or while you are staying in hospital.
To help reduce the risk of you developing a C. auris infection or spreading it to others you should:
- maintain good personal hygiene by washing your hands regularly with soap and water (or using an alcohol-based hand rub if your hands do not look dirty) – wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet or before eating
- keep any catheters, wounds or drip sites clean and covered, and report any signs of redness, swelling or discharge to a healthcare professional
- only take antibiotics or antifungal medicines when prescribed
If you have a C. auris infection
The UKHSA warned: “C. auris can cause infection in many different parts of the body. This is different from just carrying C. auris (when you will be symptom-free), as if you have a C. auris infection you will usually feel unwelI and may have a high temperature. Other symptoms will depend on the part of the body that is affected.
“If you have an infection where a drip or catheter has been inserted, you might notice pain, redness or pus at the site. If you have been diagnosed with a C. auris infection, you will usually be cared for in a single room to help prevent any spread of C. auris. You will usually be treated with antifungal medicines.”
“If you are carrying C. auris or have a C. auris infection, healthcare staff will provide any additional advice that you might need when you go home. Each time you have to return to hospital, an outpatient setting (including your GP or dentist) or another healthcare facility, you should let the staff know that you are carrying C. auris or that you had an infection. This will help the staff to take action to prevent the spread of infection to other people. C. auris can stay on your body for many years, so it is important to let healthcare settings know about this each time you return, such as by showing them this guidance.”
Preventing the spread of C. auris
The UKHSA said it working closely with hospitals that have detected cases of C. auris to give them advice on additional measures they can take to limit the spread of C. auris. These include testing people who might be affected, isolating patients who are carrying or infected with C. auris, making sure everyone practises good hand hygiene, and extra cleaning of affected clinical areas.
It added: “Patients in affected hospital wards should avoid touching any areas of broken skin or wound dressings and ensure they clean their hands regularly, particularly after using the toilet and before eating food.
“Healthy people do not usually become infected with C. auris. However, they can carry C. auris on their skin and spread it to others. Therefore, visitors should wash their hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand rub (if their hands do not look dirty) before and after touching patients, and before entering and leaving the patient’s environment. Visitors helping with patient care may also be asked to wear gloves and a gown or plastic apron to help prevent the spread of C. auris.”