Public Health Success in Dialysis Infection Control Demonstrated by Response Data

Recent research highlights the effectiveness of standard infection prevention and control (IPC) measures in dialysis settings, especially in managing Candida auris, a multidrug-resistant fungus. According to a report published in the July 10, 2025, issue of the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the CDC, adherence to established IPC protocols allowed for the safe provision of dialysis to patients colonized or infected with C. auris without leading to transmission among other patients. The study conducted by Alexandra Kurutz from the Tennessee Department of Health examined five facilities across four states from 2020 to 2023. In these facilities, six patients with C. auris received dialysis for up to four months; intriguingly, five of these patients' C. auris status was initially unknown to the healthcare providers.

Proactive implementation of general IPC practices—without C. auris-specific strategies—proved sufficient to contain the infection. In one case, an additional patient tested positive for colonization during contact testing, though no further cases emerged. However, the study also identified communication gaps among healthcare facilities and public health bodies as common hurdles during containment efforts.

The findings underscore that proper adherence to routine infection control protocols can effectively prevent the spread of resistant pathogens like C. auris in dialysis environments. Nonetheless, the authors recommend further research to understand transmission dynamics and risk factors more comprehensively.

This evidence underscores the importance of strict IPC adherence in protecting vulnerable dialysis patients and highlights the value of coordinated public health responses in outbreak situations.

For more detailed information, refer to the original study: Alexandra Kurutz et al, Candida auris Containment Responses in Health Care Facilities Providing Hemodialysis—2020–2023, published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (2025). Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-07-health-response-success-standard-infection.html