Candida auris Colonization: Enhanced Surveillance Directive

To: Health Care Professionals in Niagara
From: Environmental Health Division, Niagara Region Public Health
Reference: Candida auris Colonization: Enhanced Surveillance Directive 
Date: June 24, 2026

This memo is to inform Health Care Providers that the Ministry of Health intends to enhance provincial surveillance for Candida auris (C. auris). This approach will support a more comprehensive understanding of the burden of C. auris in Ontario and help strengthen protection of the health care system.  

• An Enhanced Surveillance Directive (ESD) for C. auris infection will be in place from July 1, 2026 – Dec 31, 2026  
• This ESD is in addition to the existing requirement to report C. auris infection cases, as defined through mandatory reporting requirements of Diseases of Public Health Significance (DOPHS) 

Health Care Provider Actions:

• Voluntarily report newly identified C. auris colonization cases to Niagara Region Public Health (NRPH). Such reporting, including the disclosure of personal health information, would be authorized under section 39(2)(a) of the Personal Health Information Protection Act as it is made for the purposes of the Health Protection and Promotion Act.   
• Implement appropriate infection prevention and control (IPAC) practices when providing care for patients colonized with C. auris (see linked resources below) 

Case Reporting and Resources

• For best practices related to C. auris screening and IPAC precautions, please refer to the following resources: 
  • Provincial Infectious Diseases Advisory Committee’s (PIDAC) Interim Guide for Infection Prevention and Control of Candida auris 
  • Public Health Ontario’s C. auris resources  
• To report both C. auris infection and colonization cases, contact NRPH - Environmental Health Division:  
  • Call 905-688-8248 ext. 7590 (Monday - Friday, 8:45 a.m. to 4:15 p.m.)  
  • Toll free: 1-888-505-6074  
  • After hours (Dispatch) 905-984-3690