Summary
Background
Candida auris persists in the environment despite disinfection. Its survival on various environmental
surfaces and the effect of sublethal concentrations of disinfectants on C. auris has not been studied.
Aim
To investigate the survival of C. auris on environmental surfaces, and the effect of sublethal concentrations of disinfectants.
Methods
Surface material blocks were fabricated and artificially contaminated with C. auris. Viable counts were assessed for 3 weeks. In addition, C. auris cells were pulsed daily with disinfectants for 15 days, and minimum inhibitory concentrations
(MICs) were determined. Ergosterol quantities and efflux pump assays were performed
on disinfectant-exposed strains using standard methods.
Results
C. auris survived on all the surfaces for >3 weeks, with the lowest count of 2.3 log colony-forming
units, regardless of wet or dry conditions. Wet wood supported the growth of C. auris (a 1 log increase), whereas dry wood inhibited this organism (both P<0.01). In the biofilm form, C. auris flourished on all surfaces. Although the MICs increased in C. auris cells pulsed with sodium dichloroisocyanurate and benzalkonium chloride, only C. auris exposed to benzalkonium chloride showed decreased ergosterol content and an activated
efflux pump.
Conclusions
Although C. auris survived on all tested surfaces, survival on wet wood was remarkable. C. auris pulsed with benzalkonium chloride developed some degree of tolerance to disinfectant
and showed efflux pump activation, suggesting the development of low-level resistance.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: April 26, 2023
Accepted:
April 16,
2023
Received:
January 16,
2023
Identification
Copyright
© 2023 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
