Infection prevention and control of candida auris in pediatric settings

Authors

• Thomas S. Murray, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA.
• Hana Hakim, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
• Christelle Ilboudo, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, MO, USA.
• Lynn Ramírez-Ávila, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA.
• Jana Shaw, Upstate Medical University of The State University of New York, Syracuse, NY, USA.
• Terri Stillwell, UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
• Patricia Budo, Pediatric Complex Care Association (PCCA), Vancouver, WA, USA.
• Bernard Ebruke, International Foundation Against Infectious Disease in Nigeria (IFAIN), Nigeria.
• Noa Fleiss, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, New Haven, CT, USA.
• Amanda Green, Healthy Child Care Initiatives for Child Care Aware of America, St. Petersburg, FL, USA.
• Matthew Linam, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Inc., Atlanta, GA, USA.
• Roshni Mathew, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
• April McDougal, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA.
• Natalie Neu, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
• Zoi Dorothea Pana, University of Nicosia Medical School, Cyprus.
• Karen Ravin, Nemours Children's Hospital Delaware, Wilmington, DE, USA.
• Ayelet Rosenthal, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA.
• Jane D. Siegel, Retired, San Diego, CA, USA.
• Katlyn Steimel, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
• Amy Valencia, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital Stanford, Palo Alto, CA, USA.
• Carol Vance, Advocate Health - MidwestFollow
• Lars F. Westblade, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
• Lisa Saiman, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.

Recommended Citation

Murray TS, Hakim H, Ilboudo C, et al. Infection prevention and control of Candida auris in pediatric settings. Antimicrob Steward Healthc Epidemiol. 2026;6(1):e183. Published 2026 Jun 23. doi:10.1017/ash.2026.10419

Affiliations

Advocate Children's Hospital Chicago

Abstract

Background: Candida auris (also referred to as Candidozyma auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen associated with high morbidity and mortality. Existing infection prevention and control (IPC) guidance has largely focused on adult populations, with limited recommendations for pediatric healthcare and non-healthcare settings.

Methods: The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) convened a multidisciplinary expert panel to develop IPC recommendations for C. auris. The panel developed recommendations using a structured, iterative Delphi consensus process with rounds of discussion, refinement, and anonymous electronic voting with predefined consensus thresholds. Panelists reviewed relevant peer-reviewed and gray literature integrated with expert judgment and practical considerations. Preambles and remarks provide additional context and guidance.

Results: This consensus statement provides recommendations for prevention of C. auris in pediatric acute care settings, non-acute healthcare settings, and non-healthcare congregate settings. Recommendations incorporate pediatric risk factors and care and address screening practices, isolation precautions, caregiver-infant/child dyad considerations, room placement and rooming in, breastfeeding and skin-to-skin practices, visitation, use of shared spaces, environmental cleaning and disinfection, and management of medical and non-medical equipment, including toys. Recommendations emphasize coordination with local infection prevention and public health partners.

Conclusions: This SHEA consensus statement addresses gaps in pediatric-specific IPC guidance for C. auris. The recommendations provide a practical framework to support prevention of transmission within the context of pediatric clinical, developmental, and family-centered care.

Document Type

Article

PubMed ID

42375658