Candida auris Disinfection: SDIC for Surface Disinfection
Candida auris (C. auris) has become an important concern in healthcare because it can persist on environmental surfaces and is resistant to several commonly used antifungal therapies. The organism has been recovered from floors, sinks, frequently touched surfaces, and patient-care equipment, creating opportunities for environmental transmission. Studies have reported that C. auris can survive on both dry and moist surfaces for days, while more recent research has found survival for more than three weeks on several tested surface materials.
For this reason, environmental cleaning and hard surface disinfection are an important part of infection prevention. Among the disinfectants investigated against C. auris, chlorine-based products containing sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC) have shown activity under a range of test conditions.
Why Is Candida auris a Disinfection Challenge?
C. auris was first identified in 2009 and has since been reported in healthcare facilities in different parts of the world. Its clinical importance is closely related to its resistance to several antifungal treatments, including fluconazole, amphotericin B, and echinocandins.
Environmental persistence adds another layer to the problem. C. auris can remain viable on surfaces for extended periods and can form aggregates and biofilms. These characteristics make routine environmental cleaning more demanding than it may be for less persistent microorganisms.
Research has also shown that C. auris does not respond identically to every disinfectant or every surface. In one study, C. auris survived on all tested materials for more than three weeks, while wet wood even supported an increase in viable counts. Biofilm growth was observed across the tested surfaces.
The Role of Cleaning Before Disinfection
Cleaning and disinfection are closely connected. C. auris can form biofilms on environmental surfaces, and the biofilm structure may make the organism more difficult to remove or inactivate. Physical wiping can therefore play an important role alongside the chemical action of a disinfectant.
SDIC for Candida auris Surface Disinfection
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC), also known as NaDCC, is a solid chlorine-releasing compound used in disinfection applications.
SDIC has received particular attention in research on chlorine-based surface disinfectants because sodium dichloroisocyanurate-containing products have been tested directly against C. auris.
The 2024 review Skin and hard surface disinfection against Candida auris – What we know today evaluated twelve disinfectant products against C. auris dry-surface biofilms. Five of the tested products contained sodium dichloroisocyanurate, with available chlorine concentrations of 1,000 or 10,000 ppm. The results were not identical across the SDIC formulations.
One SDIC formulation containing 1,000 ppm available chlorine achieved more than a 7-log reduction in viable C. auris embedded in the dry biofilm. It was also among the products that performed well in reducing transfer from the treated surface and delaying biofilm regrowth.(the best performing biocidal actives against C. auris)
How Do Other Disinfectants Compare?
Several other technologies have been tested against C. auris, including quaternary ammonium compounds, hydrogen peroxide, peracetic acid, alcohol-based products, glutaraldehyde, ortho-phthalaldehyde, hydrogen peroxide vapor, and UV-C. The results vary considerably.
Quat-only products have generally shown weaker performance in laboratory studies, while some hydrogen peroxide and peracetic acid formulations have achieved substantial reductions. UV-C has also demonstrated activity, although treatment distance, exposure time, and delivered dose influence its performance.
Peracetic acid and certain chlorine-based products have also shown activity against dry C. auris biofilms. In the dry-biofilm study, a 3,500 ppm peracetic acid product and two chlorine-based products at 1,000 ppm available chlorine were among the products that successfully reduced C. auris viability and delayed biofilm regrowth.
Conclusion
Effective disinfection is an important part of controlling Candida auris in healthcare environments. Choosing a suitable disinfectant, using the right concentration and contact time, and carrying out thorough cleaning can help keep contaminated surfaces under control. SDIC and other chlorine-based disinfectants provide practical options for surface disinfection when used properly. For facilities dealing with C. auris, good cleaning and careful disinfection should always be part of routine infection control.
About Us
Liuhe Chemicals combines large-scale manufacturing with ongoing technical development in specialty and water treatment chemicals. Our core product portfolio includes SDIC, TCCA, Cyanuric Acid, Sulfamic Acid, and Melamine Cyanurate. Supported by a 240,000 m² manufacturing base, automated production facilities, professional laboratories, and more than 100 patents and proprietary technologies, Liuhe continues to strengthen its capabilities in production, quality control, and product development while serving customers in international markets.
FAQ
What makes Candida auris difficult to control in healthcare environments?
Candida auris is difficult to control because several factors can occur at the same time. It can colonize the skin without causing symptoms, survive on environmental surfaces for extended periods, and form biofilms that are more difficult to remove or inactivate. It is also resistant to several commonly used antifungal medicines. For these reasons, controlling C. auris requires attention not only to infected or colonized patients, but also to contaminated surfaces and patient-care equipment.
Can chlorine-based disinfectants be used against Candida auris?
Yes. Chlorine-based disinfectants have demonstrated activity against C. auris in suspension, carrier, and dry-biofilm studies. Products containing sodium hypochlorite and sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC) have achieved substantial reductions in viable C. auris under different test conditions. Chlorine concentration and contact time are important factors, while thorough cleaning can also support effective surface disinfection.
Is SDIC effective for Candida auris surface disinfection?
Sodium dichloroisocyanurate (SDIC), also known as NaDCC, has been specifically tested against C. auris, including dry-surface biofilms. In one study summarized in the 2024 review, one SDIC formulation containing 1,000 ppm available chlorine achieved more than a 7-log reduction in viable C. auris and also performed well in reducing transfer from the treated surface and delaying biofilm regrowth. These results demonstrate the strong disinfection potential of SDIC against C. auris when used at an appropriate available chlorine concentration and with sufficient contact time.
Is killing Candida auris on a surface enough to control contamination?
Not always. C. auris can form biofilms and may remain on or be transferred from environmental surfaces if cleaning and disinfection are incomplete. Some studies have also observed regrowth after an initial reduction in viable cells. Effective environmental control therefore involves both physical cleaning and chemical disinfection, with appropriate disinfectant concentration, contact time, and application. For healthcare environments where C. auris is present, surface disinfection should be considered as part of a broader infection prevention and environmental cleaning program.