The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) announced on Monday that it will classify Candida auris infection as a Class 4 notifiable infectious disease and healthcare-associated infection starting March 29.
This new classification means the infection will be subject to sample surveillance to monitor potential outbreaks. Other diseases in this category include influenza, hand-foot-and-mouth disease, and gastrointestinal infections.
The designation will enable systematic reporting and monitoring of Candida auris cases and carriers through a network of 368 surveillance institutions nationwide. This will provide a more accurate picture of its prevalence in healthcare settings. Additionally, health insurance coverage for isolation room stays is expected to reduce the financial burden on both medical facilities and patients.
Candida auris is a fungal pathogen that typically spreads through patient-to-patient contact, contaminated medical equipment or surfaces, and healthcare workers’ hands.
What makes this pathogen particularly concerning is its high resistance to antifungal drugs and its ability to persist in healthcare environments. For immunocompromised individuals, invasive Candida auris infections can be severe or even fatal, underscoring the need for quick diagnosis, appropriate treatment, and stringent infection control measures.
Since its initial identification in Japan in 2009, Candida auris has been reported in more than 61 countries globally. The United States and Europe have seen rising case numbers, particularly among long-term hospital patients, making it a significant threat to healthcare systems worldwide.
In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) categorized Candida auris as a critical priority pathogen and antimicrobial resistance threat, emphasizing the need for proactive global strategies to combat its spread.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has also designated it as an urgent threat, recognizing its substantial risk to public health.
While South Korea has primarily seen cases of the less virulent Candida auris strain (Clade II), recent reports of the more aggressive Clade I infections have highlighted the need for a robust national surveillance and management system.
In response, the KDCA plans to launch surveys in 2024 to assess Candida auris prevalence and infection control practices in healthcare facilities across the country. The agency has also developed and distributed comprehensive guidelines for managing this pathogen.
These guidelines offer practical, ready-to-use protocols for healthcare institutions, covering areas such as surveillance methods, screening procedures, patient and contact management, isolation practices, and environmental cleaning and disinfection.
To support healthcare providers in facilities without on-site infection specialists, the KDCA is developing treatment recommendations, including guidance on antifungal selection, to aid in clinical decision-making.