KNOWLEDGE Disinfectants put to the test Surface disinfection for C. auris The review evaluated 36 studies from nine countries, most of which used standardised carrier tests or quantitative surface models with a defined microbial load, contact time, and active ingredient concentration. Seven of the studies investigated C. auris in biofilms, including ‚dry-surface biofilms‘ (DSB) [4]. Efficacy of the various disinfectants Chlorine-based or oxidising disinfectants (e.g. sodium hypochlorite, sodium dichloroisocyanurate and hydrogen peroxide/ peracetic acid formulations) generally achieved significant reductions in bacterial counts across the most significant C. auris clades in practical settings [4]. Products based exclusively on quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), however, showed high variability. Several studies have demonstrated the pronounced yeasticidal efficacy of alcohol-based surface disinfecCandidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris) poses an increasing threat to hospitals and care facilities worldwide [1, 2]. This yeast can cause life-threatening infections and is resistant to many antifungal drugs [3]. It can survive on surfaces for up to three weeks, which increases the risk of indirect transmission via contaminated surfaces [3]. Therefore, proper cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and equipment is of great importance. A systematic review investigated the efficacy of various surface disinfectants [4]. tants. Phenolic preparations, by contrast, performed less well [4]. In addition to manual disinfection, contactless methods, such as the use of UV-C light, can be employed. However, their effectiveness depends crucially on the dose, the distance from the surface, and the room‘s geometry, since shadowed areas cannot be reached [4]. Biofilms: a particular challenge The authors emphasised that C. auris is significantly more resistant in biofilms, particularly in DSBs, than in its planktonic form. Under identical conditions, they found that significantly lower reductions in bacterial counts were achieved [4]. Surviving cells in the biofilm can cause the environment to become contaminated again. This further highlights the importance of effective surface disinfection in the case of C. auris. Let’s roll! A video on the HARTMANN SCIENCE CENTER’s YouTube channel clearly summarises the risks and necessary hygiene measures for C. auris. Click here for the video: References: 1. Uppar A (2025) GMS Hyg Infect Control 20: Doc 69. 2. CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Candida auris. https://www.cdc.gov/candida-auris/index.html (zuletzt abgerufen am 17.03.2026). 3. Wißmann JE et al. (2021) Microorganisms 9: 343. 4. Papadimitrou A et al. (2026) J Fungi 12: 131. Effective surface disinfection for C. auris HARTMANN‘s surface disinfectants Mikrobac® forte and Dismozon® plus have proven yeasticidal efficacy against Candida albicans. Both disinfectants were tested for their efficacy against C. auris. It has been demonstrated that exposure times and concentrations advertised as yeasticidal are also sufficient to eradicate C. auris. Biofilm C. auris 19
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