Insight Webinar with IPC Partners - Candidozyma auris: the infection control challenges in Kuwait
Aired on 07 January 2026
Candida auris: The Infection Control Challenges in Kuwait — Insight Webinar (January 7, 2026) is hosted by IPC Partners in partnership with the Healthcare Infection Society.and the Infection Prevention Society (IPS). Candidozyma auris (C. auris), previously known as Candida auris, continues to pose one of the most urgent global infection control challenges. In this Insight Webinar, we explore the emerging epidemiology, rising burden and innovative control strategies from Kuwait — a country experiencing a rapid increase in C. auris bloodstream infections.
Speaker: Dr. Areej Y. Alali, Head of Surveillance, Infection Control Directorate, Kuwait Ministry of Health, PhD in Epidemiology & Public Health (UCL, UK)
Convenors: Dr. Jon Otter & Dr Phil Norville.
Session Overview: In this webinar, Dr. Alali presents Kuwait’s national experience with Candida auris—from its alarming rise in candidemia cases to implementing a country‑wide response across 12 adult medical‑surgical ICUs. Topics covered include: - The increasing burden of C. auris in ICUs across Kuwait - Epidemiological trends from 2016–2024 - Challenges in identification, colonisation, resistance and environmental contamination - The shift from traditional IPC approaches to more aggressive, targeted measures - Screening strategies (culture vs PCR), body sites and silent carriers - Environmental cleaning and disinfection: chlorine vs peracetic acid wipes - CHG (chlorhexidine) bathing: technique, dilution errors, compliance and impact - Dramatic reduction in C. auris acquisition and candidemia in 2025 - Behavioural change, accountability and continuous monitoring
Key Takeaways: C. auris has become the leading cause of CLABSI in Kuwaiti ICUs, accounting for a third of cases. - Standard IPC bundles are insufficient for yeast transmission — adaptation is essential. - CHG decolonisation, when performed correctly, emerged as a critical component of reduction. - Rapid diagnostics and consistent screening help identify silent carriers early. Improved environmental cleaning with practical high‑level disinfectant wipes reduces contamination. - Real‑time data sharing and bedside coaching were vital for changing human behaviour.
About This Webinar Series: This is the first in a series of 11 IPC Insight Webinars running throughout 2026. All sessions are CPD‑accredited by the Royal College of Pathologists and aim to provide concise expert overviews, stimulate discussion and build a global community of infection prevention enthusiasts. You can see the programme of webinars and their Journal Club cousins here: https://ipcpartners.org/learn-with-us/