**Please note, continuing education credit is no longer available for this webinar.
Candida species are one of the most common sources of
health-care acquired infections, can be difficult to diagnose and treat, are
associated with increased morbidity and mortality and lead to increased length
of hospital stay and costs. However, few clinical microbiology laboratories
routinely identify
Candida at a
species level. The emergence of
Candida
auris
, a multidrug-resistant species, combined with increasing numbers of
other drug-resistant
Candida species means
identification and susceptibility testing of
Candida species are critical functions of the clinical laboratory. New
methods that allow for more accurate and rapid identification of
C. auris are now available. This webinar
will describe the best methods for identification of
Candida species, including C.
auris
and approaches for anti-fungal susceptibility testing (AST) that can
be adopted in the clinical microbiology laboratory. The speakers will also
describe
Candida testing services
offered through the AR Laboratory Network that can aid infection prevention
approaches in your facility including
C. auris colonization
testing and AST of
Candida species.
Objectives:
- Describe the growing threat of Candida auris and the role of the clinical laboratory in identifying and containing its spread.
- Review available test methods for Candida identification and susceptibility testing.
- Identify Candida testing services offered through the AR Laboratory Network and explain how they can support health care facilities.
 |
Erin H. Graf, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Director, Infectious Disease Diagnostics Laboratory The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Assistant Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania Moderator |
 |
Shawn R. Lockhart, Ph.D., D(ABMM)
Director, Fungal Reference Laboratory Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Speaker |
 |
Elizabeth L. Berkow, Ph.D., MLS (ASCP)
Fungal Reference Laboratory Centers for the Disease Control and Prevention Speaker |
Audience:
This basic level program is appropriate for all microbiologists working in clinical or public health laboratory settings.
For program content information, please email Kelly Wroblewski at kelly.wroblewski@aphl.org.
Please email ASM if you require closed captioning.