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In healthcare settings, remove visible soil first, then disinfect hard, nonporous surfaces with a product currently listed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for Candida auris (List P). Follow the exact label directions and keep the surface visibly wet for the full contact time stated for its C. auris claim. Contact times vary by product.
How do you clean and disinfect surfaces after Candida auris contamination?
Use this sequence for surfaces and use sites covered by the product label. Facility infection-control procedures, the disinfectant label, and equipment-manufacturer instructions determine the appropriate protections and compatible products.
- Prepare and protect. Follow facility procedures and the product’s directions for use. Wear the barrier protection specified by the label and facility policy; EPA guidance includes protection such as gloves, gowns, masks, or eye covering.
- Remove visible soil. Remove fecal matter, waste, and other visible soil before disinfection. EPA guidance describes vigorous wiping or scrubbing with a clean cloth, mop, or sponge saturated with product, continuing until visible soil is removed.
- Verify the product. Check its EPA registration number against the current List P and read the C. auris-specific directions on that exact label. Confirm the surface and use site are covered.
- Apply and maintain wetness. Apply the product as directed and keep the surface visibly wet for the complete contact time on its C. auris label directions. Reapply only as the label directs if the surface dries before that time is complete.
- Repeat on the facility schedule. CDC recommends thorough cleaning and disinfection of patient rooms at least daily and when patients are discharged or relocated. Clean and disinfect shared equipment and other areas the patient contacted before they are used again, following facility and manufacturer procedures.
What disinfectant kills Candida auris?
Choose a product with a current EPA-registered claim specifically for C. auris, using EPA’s List P as the product check. Do not infer effectiveness from a general hospital-disinfectant or fungicidal claim, an active ingredient alone, or a claim against Candida albicans. CDC cautions that some such products do not work against C. auris.
EPA’s List P identifies registration number, active ingredient, brand, company, contact time, formulation, surface types, and use sites. For example, the retrieved list showed HLD Wipes (EPA Reg. No. 6836-523) with a one-minute contact time and Dispatch Hospital Cleaner Disinfectant with Bleach (EPA Reg. No. 56392-7) with a three-minute contact time for hard, nonporous surfaces. These are examples, not endorsements or a substitute for checking the current listing and the exact product label before use; registrations, directions, and availability can change.
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Some distributor products use a supplemental registration that shares a base registration with an added distributor suffix. Verify the number and the corresponding pathogen directions on the product label rather than relying on the brand name.
Compare labels, not just contact times
When choosing between suitable List P products, compare whether the label covers the surface and use site, the exact C. auris wet contact time, formulation and workflow practicality, whether dilution is required, and compatibility with the surface or device manufacturer’s instructions. A shorter contact time alone does not establish that a product is the better choice.
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How long does disinfectant need to stay wet?
Keep the treated surface visibly wet for the full contact time specified in the C. auris directions on that product’s label. EPA defines contact time as the time the product must be applied to the surface to be effective. There is no single universal time: the required duration varies by product, so use the exact label rather than borrowing a time from another product or claim.
Why are generic disinfectant claims not enough?
CDC reports accumulating data indicate that products relying solely on quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) are not effective against C. auris. Do not choose a product based only on generic QAC wording. The relevant check is a current List P entry and the C. auris-specific directions on the exact label.
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Can UV disinfection replace cleaning?
No. CDC says evidence on UV irradiation and vaporized hydrogen peroxide for C. auris is limited, and effective operating parameters are not yet well understood. These no-touch methods should supplement, not replace, standard cleaning and disinfection.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What surfaces and settings does this guidance cover?
CDC’s cited cleaning recommendations concern healthcare settings, and EPA’s efficacy guidance discussed here covers hard, nonporous surfaces. Do not assume the same approach applies to porous materials, every medical device, or a surface not named on the product label. For those cases, follow facility infection-prevention procedures and the equipment or surface manufacturer’s instructions; the cited guidance does not establish a universal alternative method.
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