Officials with Victoria Health are reporting the first known case of Candida auris, or C. auris in the state.

Image/CDC
Image/CDC

It is believed the Victorian man acquired the infection during admission to a hospital in the United Kingdom.

C. auris is a fungus which can cause colonisation on the skin, or invasive infections (e.g. bloodstream or urine infections) and has caused outbreaks in many other countries, including England and the United States.

C. auris is of particular concern for the following reasons:

  • It causes serious infections
  • It is often resistant to anti-fungal medicines, and may be untreatable
  • It is becoming more common internationally
  • It is difficult to identify as it can be misidentified as other Candida species
  • It can spread readily in hospitals and nursing homes

The Department of Health and Human Services is working closely with the health care facility where the patient was admitted to screen any other patients who may have been in contact with the case on same ward.

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