New York State Health Commissioner Dr. Howard Zucker Issues Statewide Health Advisory
A statewide health advisory has been issued to all hospitals and nursing homes in New York City to be on high alert of readiness for Candida auris, or C. auris, a fungal infection that has become increasingly resistant to treatments and can cause severe illness in patients with serious underlying medical conditions.
First identified in Japan in 2009, C. auris has now been identified as the cause of reported infections in more than a dozen countries and six states, including New York. Cases in New York are primarily concentrated among hospital patients and nursing home residents in New York City.
The health advisory reinforces guidance issued by the Department of Health (DOH) on August 17, 2016 and November 3, 2016 encouraging enhanced surveillance for the identification and reporting of C. auris cases, and stressing the importance of proper infection control practices. When C. auris is identified or suspected, the Department requires that the patients be isolated or cohorted in single rooms. It also requires facilities to maintain adequate supplies of personal protective equipment, and EPA-registered surface disinfectant to apply with DOH and CDC approved cleaning and disinfecting techniques.
Additionally, DOH has scheduled a webinar on Candida auris for Thurs., May 11th. Please note that clinical staff of all hospitals and nursing homes located in New York City are required to participate. The DOH notice is copied below.
Webinar: Candida auris in New York State Healthcare Facilities: An Update for Clinical Staff
Date: Thursday, May 11th 2017
Time: 12-1 PM AND 3-4 PM
*The NYSDOH will be offering two sessions of the SAME webinar to provide clinical staff with ample opportunity to join. Additionally, the webinar will be posted on the NYSDOH website.
Objectives:
- To provide an update on the multidrug-resistant yeast Candida auris (C. auris) and its emergence in NYS.
- To review when to suspect C. auris, identification, and reporting.
- To discuss strict infection control and environmental cleaning measures in healthcare settings to prevent the spread of C. auris.
- To provide an update on NYSDOH prevention and control activities.
Presenter: Emily Lutterloh, MD, MPH, Director, Bureau of Healthcare Associated Infections, New York State Department of Health
Attendees: The Department is requiring clinical staff of all hospitals and nursing homes located in New York City to participate in the webinar. Clinical staff in facilities outside of New York City are also encouraged to view the webinar. Healthcare facilities should emphasize attendance by: Hospital Epidemiologists, Infection Preventionists, Nursing Directors, Case Managers/Care Coordinators, Laboratory Directors, Infectious Disease Physicians, Critical Care Medicine Physicians, Medical Directors, Dialysis Unit Directors, Risk Managers, Administrators, Pharmacy Directors, Emergency Medicine staff, and Directors of Environmental Services. Interns, residents, and other trainees are encouraged to attend as well.
Registration Links:
Thursday May 11th, 2017 at 12:00 PM: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e46fd2b7a84a4aa0cb27687e91199c26b
Thursday May 11th, 2017 at 3:00 PM: https://meetny.webex.com/meetny/onstage/g.php?MTID=e37fdf8ff6249d6b0a0712b169393c4a6
Contact: Elliott Frost, efrost@leadingageny.org, 518-867-8832