Surveillance of colonization and infection of Candida auris in Venezuelan immigrants in Brazil

• Grant number: 18/16641-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: October 01, 2018
• End date: September 30, 2019
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Microbiology
• Principal Investigator: Arnaldo Lopes Colombo
• Grantee: Janaina Matheussi Moraes
• Host Institution: Escola Paulista de Medicina (EPM). Universidade Federal de São Paulo (UNIFESP). Campus São Paulo. São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/02203-7 - Multidisciplinary and international network to characterize microbiological aspects and natural history of invasive fungal infections due Candida spp, AP.TEM

Abstract

Last years have been a substantial increase in the occurrence of invasive infections by Candida isolates resistant to antifungal treatment. Among Candida spp, C. auris present resistantance to triazoles, amphotericin B and eventually echinocandins, representing the worth mentioning. The occurrence of C. auris outbreaks in several countries of the world triggered the establishment of technical standards by ANVISA, conducing actions for the early identification and control of infections by this agent. The entry of this multiresistant antifungal agent into the Americas occurred in Venezuelan hospitals and in view of the economic and social chaos in that country, it is possible that this agent remains circulating among the population. Thus, considering C. auris outbreaks in Venezuela in the period of March 2012 to July 2013, this proposal aim to establish a surveillance network C. auris colonization / infection in populations at risk, such as Venezuelan immigrants in Brazil. We established a collaboration with colleagues from the Boa Vista-Roraima and São Paulo medical services, which will allow us to monitor colonization/infection by C. auris, collecting swabs from different anatomical sites of persons who had prior contact (last 6 months) with health services or with patients who were admitted to the Venezuelan health services through agreement and signing of the free and informed consent term. In addition, we will check the colonization by C. auris of the hospital environment in the cities with reported presence of Venezuelans hospitalized. Based on this, intervention strategies in order to contain the outbreak in Brazil, such as measures that allow rapid diagnosis, treatment with appropriate antifungal therapy and infection control protocols can be implemented.