In vitro efficacy of disinfectants utilised for skin decolonisation and environmental decontamination during a hospital outbreak with Candida auris

Candida auris has caused nosocomial infections and transmissions within hospital settings. As little is known about the efficacy of skin and environmental decontamination products to kill C. auris, this study investigated the in vitro activity of chlorine, chlorhexidine, iodine povidone and vaporised hydrogen peroxide products against C. auris. H2 O2 vapour showed 96.6%-100% effective killing of C. auris. All isolates were inhibited by chlorhexidine gluconate concentrations at 0.125%-1.5% and for iodinated povidone at 0.07%-1.25%. Other species of Candida were also killed at 1000 ppm chlorine except C. parapsilosis which failed to be killed at 3 minutes contact time. We conclude that chlorhexidine gluconate, iodinated povidone, chlorine and H2 O2 vapour demonstrate effective killing activity against C. auris at concentrations used in clinical practice.