Candida auris Outbreaks in Saudi Hospitals (2020–2022)
Author Information
Author(s): Alanazi Khalid H., Roushdy Hala M., ALzubaidi Waad I., Alanazi Arwa S., Alanazi Nawal M., Alamri Ahlam H., Alnshbah Yahya I., AL Almatrafi Nawaf M., Al Shahrani Zainah M., Alanazi Adel S., Alshanbari Nasser H.
Primary Institution: General Directorate of Infection Prevention & Control, Ministry of Health-Saudi Arabia
Hypothesis
To describe the epidemiology and features of hospital-acquired Candida auris outbreaks in the Ministry of Health hospitals.
Conclusion
C. auris is a new pathogen that causes hospital outbreaks, and strict adherence to infection prevention measures has significantly reduced the spread.
Supporting Evidence
- Out of 511 cases, 291 were infected and 220 were colonized.
- 32.9% of cases were above the age of 65.
- 68.9% of cases were male.
- Crude mortality rate was 41.5% among the study cases.
Takeaway
Candida auris is a dangerous fungus that can make people very sick in hospitals, especially older patients. Keeping hospitals clean and following strict rules can help stop it from spreading.
Methodology
A three-year retrospective analysis of Candida auris outbreaks in 45 Saudi MOH hospitals.
Potential Biases
Potential misidentification of cases due to inadequate laboratory procedures.
Limitations
Limited clinical data for each patient and lack of a reference group for comparison.
Participant Demographics
Majority were males (68.9%) and above 65 years old (32.9%).
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.093
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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