Does C. auris go away completely in an 83-year-old woman?

Question

Hello doctor,

My grandmother, who is 83, was recently diagnosed with Candida auris after being hospitalized for pneumonia. She has been placed in isolation, and the doctors said it is drug-resistant. We are honestly not sure what that means. Does it go away completely, or is it something she will carry forever?

We are hardly allowed to visit, and it has been really difficult. She is diabetic and very weak right now. We are trying to understand what precautions we need to take and whether it spreads easily. The whole family is very concerned.

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

Candida auris is a fungal infection that is sometimes resistant to conventional antifungal medications, making it difficult to treat. The first-line treatment is with a class of antifungal drugs called echinocandins. However, if this treatment fails, a combination of multiple antifungal agents may be used. In most cases, once a person is colonized with the organism, it may remain in their system for life.

Even after a period of remission, the infection can return. In a few cases, it may not return. Yes, at this time, visitors should be restricted. However, close family members may be allowed to visit if they wear proper personal protective equipment (PPE).

Precautions to be taken include the following: frequent handwashing with soap and water or using an alcohol-based sanitizer; thoroughly cleaning contaminated surfaces with bleach-based disinfectants; isolating the infected individual and not sharing their utensils, towels, or laundry; her clothes should be washed separately.

Once a person has tested positive, this information should always be disclosed when seeking hospital care or medical attention in the future. Healthcare workers should wear full PPE, including gowns and gloves. Visitor entry should be limited, and both healthcare staff and any visitors should be educated about the importance of these precautions.

I hope this helps.

Take care.