Caitlin Stowe, MPH, CPH, CPHQ, CIC, VA-BC

Candida auris is the pathogen that won’t take a hint—clinging to surfaces, nesting in biofilms, and outlasting rushed wipe-downs. Yet the chemistries potent enough to kill it can be punishing to people, devices, and environments. This piece tackles the tightrope: how to choose, use, and verify C auris effective disinfection without trading one risk for another.

With inadequate disinfection practices, healthcare workers are much more likely to acquire pathogens on their hands after touching these surfaces, potentially passing them on to patients.