{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,29]],"date-time":"2026-09-29T16:34:52Z","timestamp":1790699692795,"version":"4.1.0"},"reference-count":29,"publisher":"Cambridge University Press (CUP)","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]],"date-time":"2025-11-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762905600000},"content-version":"unspecified","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/terms"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["cambridge.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Infect. Control Hosp. Epidemiol."],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]},"abstract":"Abstract<\/jats:title>\n \n Objective:<\/jats:title>\n \n To analyze the correlation between scale of\n Candida auris<\/jats:italic>\n clustering and extent of environmental contamination, exploring its implications for improving infection control measures in healthcare settings.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Design:<\/jats:title>\n Retrospective observational study.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Setting:<\/jats:title>\n An acute hospital and a convalescent hospital in Hong Kong.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Patients:<\/jats:title>\n \n Laboratory confirmed\n C. auris<\/jats:italic>\n carriers diagnosed in two hospitals between March and October 2023.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Methods:<\/jats:title>\n \n C. auris<\/jats:italic>\n screening was conducted on patients with defined risk factors and through regular surveillance. Environmental samples were collected from high-touch surfaces and air grilles in corresponding wards.\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Results:<\/jats:title>\n \n One-hundred-seventy new\n C. auris<\/jats:italic>\n patients were identified, including 65 from nine outbreaks and 105 sporadic cases. Environmental screening from eight outbreaks and 46 sporadic isolated cases was analyzed. The environmental contamination rate was significantly higher in the outbreak group (15.1% vs 2.6%,\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.05). Longer outbreak duration (34 vs 7 days,\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.05) and a higher median number of affected patients per outbreak (9 vs 5,\n P<\/jats:italic>\n = 0.05) were associated with higher contamination rates. Notably, air grille samples had a significantly higher contamination rate than high-touch surfaces in both the outbreak (31.6% vs 10.2%,\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.05) and sporadic groups (4.6% vs 1.5%,\n P<\/jats:italic>\n < 0.05).\n <\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>\n \n Conclusion:<\/jats:title>\n \n Prolonged and sizeable\n C. auris<\/jats:italic>\n clusterings were linked with more extensive environmental contamination, particularly in air grilles, which are often overlooked during decontamination\n <\/jats:p>\n These findings underscore the need for enhanced infection control measures, including thorough environmental decontamination of air ventilation systems, to mitigate transmission risks in healthcare settings.<\/jats:p>\n <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.1017\/ice.2025.10347","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]],"date-time":"2025-11-12T11:22:48Z","timestamp":1762946568000},"page":"46-52","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/policypage","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":2,"title":["Long-range air dispersal as an important source of environmental contamination in\n Candida auris<\/i>\n clustering: possible infection control implication"],"prefix":"10.1017","volume":"47","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-5303-1088","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Wing-Yu","family":"Fung","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Queen Elizabeth Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Ryan Yiu-Fai","family":"Cheng","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kowloon Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-2643-251X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Anthony Pak-Yuen","family":"Yau","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Bendigo Health"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Suet-Yi","family":"Lee","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Queen Elizabeth Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Nga-Han","family":"Chan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Queen Elizabeth Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Yuk-Shan","family":"Wong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Kowloon Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Garnet Kwan-Yue","family":"Choi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Hong Kong Children\u2019s Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Herman","family":"Tse","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Khoo Teck Puat Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2126-6484","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Sally Cheuk-Ying","family":"Wong","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Queen Elizabeth Hospital"},{"name":"Hong Kong Children\u2019s Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6047-9744","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"David Christopher","family":"Lung","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Queen Elizabeth Hospital"},{"name":"Hong Kong Children\u2019s Hospital"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"56","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref28","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2021.08.005"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1017\/ice.2017.127"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref23","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.ijrefrig.2003.10.003"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref27","unstructured":"27. National Health Service England. Health Technical Memorandum 03-01 Specialised ventilation for healthcare premises Part B: the management, operation, maintenance and routine testing of existing healthcare ventilation systems. 2021. https:\/\/www.england.nhs.uk\/publication\/specialised-ventilation-for-healthcare-buildings\/. Accessed November 13, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref8","unstructured":"8. HKSAR Government Press Releases. CHP follows up on case of Candida auris. June 27, 2019. https:\/\/www.info.gov.hk\/gia\/general\/201906\/27\/P2019062700810.htm. Accessed November 23, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref18","unstructured":"18. UK Health Security Agency. Candida auris: laboratory investigation, management and infection prevention and control (draft). June 14, 2023. https:\/\/www.gov.uk\/government\/consultations\/candida-auris-update-to-management-guidance\/candida-auris-laboratory-investigation-management-and-infection-prevention-and-control-draft#infection-prevention-and-control. Accessed November 13, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s13756-016-0132-5"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref11","unstructured":"11. Task Force on Infection Control. Guideline on infection control for Candida Auris. HA Central Committee on Infectious Diseases and Emergency Response (CCIDER) 2023."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref5","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/JCM.00921-17"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1186\/s40560-018-0342-4"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref9","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1128\/MRA.00308-20"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref20","unstructured":"20. State of Queensland (Queensland Health). Candida auris (C. auris) infection prevention and control. 2024. https:\/\/www.health.qld.gov.au\/__data\/assets\/pdf_file\/0028\/722827\/Candida-auris-guideline.pdf. Accessed November 23, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref10","unstructured":"10. HKSAR Government Press Releases. LCQ13: Candida auris. March 13, 2024. https:\/\/www.info.gov.hk\/gia\/general\/202403\/13\/P2024031300286.htm. Accessed November 23, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref22","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/S0195-6701(98)90326-7"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref14","unstructured":"14. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Contact precautions. April 3, 2024. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/infection-control\/media\/pdfs\/contact-precautions-sign-P.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2025."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref12","unstructured":"12. World Health Organization. Your 5 moments for hand hygiene. May 2009. https:\/\/cdn.who.int\/media\/docs\/default-source\/integrated-health-services-(ihs)\/infection-prevention-and-control\/your-5-moments-for-hand-hygiene-poster.pdf. Accessed July 14, 2025."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2017.09.009"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref16","unstructured":"16. European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. Candida auris in healthcare settings \u2013 Europe. April 23, 2018. https:\/\/www.ecdc.europa.eu\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/RRA-Candida-auris-European-Union-countries.pdf. Accessed November 23, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref1","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.3767\/persoonia.2024.52.02"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref25","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2024.04.011"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1111\/myc.13445"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref24","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1007\/s10311-020-01178-4"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref3","unstructured":"3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Infection control guidance: Candida auris. April 24, 2024. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/candida-auris\/hcp\/infection-control\/index.html. Accessed November 23, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref29","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2022.02.012"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref7","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1016\/j.jhin.2023.09.019"},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref26","unstructured":"26. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Part II. Recommendations for environmental infection control in health-care facilities. 2003. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/infection-control\/hcp\/environmental-control\/recommendations.html#cdc_generic_section_3-c-air. Accessed November 13, 2024."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref13","unstructured":"13. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Standard precautions for all patient care. April 3, 2024. https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/infection-control\/hcp\/basics\/standard-precautions.html. Accessed July 14, 2025."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref21","unstructured":"21. Public Health Agency of Canada. Candida auris infection prevention and control in Canadian Healthcare Settings. 2024. https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/content\/dam\/phac-aspc\/documents\/services\/publications\/diseases-conditions\/candida-auris-infection-prevention-control-canadian-healthcare-settings\/candida-auris-infection-prevention-control-canadian-healthcare-settings.pdf. Accessed March 11, 2025, 2025."},{"key":"S0899823X25103474_ref19","unstructured":"19. State of Victoria Department of Health. Victorian guideline on Candida auris. 2023. https:\/\/www.health.vic.gov.au\/infectious-diseases\/victorian-guideline-on-candida-auris-for-health-services. Accessed November 23, 2024."}],"container-title":["Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/services\/aop-cambridge-core\/content\/view\/S0899823X25103474","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,10]],"date-time":"2026-04-10T04:41:21Z","timestamp":1775796081000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/www.cambridge.org\/core\/product\/identifier\/S0899823X25103474\/type\/journal_article"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]]},"references-count":29,"journal-issue":{"issue":"1","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2026,1]]}},"alternative-id":["S0899823X25103474"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1017\/ice.2025.10347","relation":{},"ISSN":["0899-823X","1559-6834"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0899-823X","type":"print"},{"value":"1559-6834","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]]},"assertion":[{"value":"\u00a9 The Author(s), 2025. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America","name":"copyright","label":"Copyright","group":{"name":"copyright_and_licensing","label":"Copyright and Licensing"}}]}}