The Fungus Among Us: Developing a Candida Auris Risk Assessment

Session Description: In summer of 2024, a 914-bed academic acute care hospital saw a sharp increase in the incidence of admitted Candida auris (C. auris) cases. Prior to August 2024, the trend was one or two known C. auris patients admitted at a time. In fall of 2024, this increased to at least four patients with C. auris admitted at a time. Additionally, new invasive infections were being detected. It was difficult to distinguish if these cases were hospital acquired or present on admission, because there was no colonization screening protocol in place. Prior to mid-2024, the only way new cases were identified was detection through an invasive infection or point prevalence screening done in partnership with the local health department. While performing outbreak investigation and response, Infection Prevention began evaluating how to implement admission screening for C. auris colonization. Barriers to admission screening for C. auris included: identifying a testing platform, ensuring the laboratorians could build an infrastructure to run the instrument, creating the lab order in the electronic health record, and using internal data to select criteria to screen patients. In November 2024, Infection Prevention presented C. auris data trends and a proposal to purchase the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved platform for testing high risk patients upon admission to hospital executive leadership. This was approved. A risk assessment was created based on U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defined risk factors and local epidemiology. In March 2025, on site polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing went live, and the risk assessment trial began on two intensive care units. By May 2025, six new present on admission C. auris cases were identified utilizing the risk assessment. The testing criteria was refined after evaluating patients tested within the first two months and is now being expanded to other units.

Ashley Bychkowski

Infection Prevention Manager, Baylor Scott & White Frisco at PGA Parkway

Ashley recently began the position of Infection Prevention Manager and Patient Safety Officer for Baylor Scott and White Frisco at PGA Parkway located in Frisco, TX. Prior to beginning this role, she worked as an Infection Preventionist at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, TX from 2022 to 2025. Her background includes working as a nurse epidemiologist for Dallas County Health and Human Services Acute Communicable Disease and Epidemiology Division from 2020 to 2022 and bedside nursing at Memorial Hermann at Texas Medical Center in Houston, TX from 2017 to 2020. She attended Texas Tech University Health Science Center in Lubbock, TX graduating in December 2016. Ashley currently serves as the APIC DFW Secretary and is the chair for APIC DFW 50 Year Celebration Gala to be hosted in 2026.

Gabriela Perez

Manager of Infection Prevention and Control, Baylor University Medical Center

Gabriela Perez MPH, CIC is the Manager of Infection Prevention and Control at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas, a part of Baylor Scott & White Health. She has been working in field of Epidemiology and Public Health since 2009. Gaby obtained her Master of Public Health in Epidemiology in 2009 from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in Fort Worth and a Bachelor of Science degree in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University. She is a member of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology and was the APIC DFW 2025 Chapter President. She also has certification in infection control through CBIC. She has a passion for health equity, hospital epidemiology, zero preventable harm, and patient advocacy.

Kinta Alexander

Director of Infection Prevention, New York City Health and Hospitals/Harlem

Dr. Kinta Alexander, DrPH, MS, MPH, CIC, FNYAM, is Director of Infection Prevention and Control at NYC Health + Hospitals | Harlem and CEO of MICRO Consulting Corporation. With over 18 years in infection prevention, she has led innovative initiatives, including the development of a system-wide protocol to combat multidrug-resistant Candida auris (recently reclassified as Candidozyma auris) while at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, later recognized by the New York State Department of Health as a best practice. An accomplished presenter and author, Dr. Alexander has shared her expertise at ICPIC in Geneva and APIC’s national conference, with publications covering CRE, C. difficile, measles, CAUTI, neonatal Pseudomonas, and hand hygiene compliance. She serves as a manuscript reviewer for AJIC and ICHE, co-chairs the Infection Prevention Council for NYC Health + Hospitals, and leads the mentorship program as a Board Director for the APIC Greater New York Chapter. Her honors include the 2019 United Hospital Fund Excellence in Health Care Award and induction as a Fellow of the New York Academy of Medicine in 2024.

Lerenza Howard

Manager of Infection Prevention and Quality Improvement, La Rabida Children’s Hospital

Dr. Lerenza L. Howard, DHSc, MHA, CIC, LSSGB, is the Manager of Infection Prevention and Quality Improvement at La Rabida Children's Hospital, where she also oversees Employee Health. A Board-Certified Infection Control professional with 10+ years of healthcare experience, her work sits at the intersection of clinical expertise, systems thinking, and data-driven strategy. Formerly System Infection Control Manager at Sinai Chicago, she has driven measurable outcomes across complex, multi-site environments. Notable achievements include founding a World Hand Hygiene Day initiative that educated 600+ healthcare workers and community members, driving environmental compliance to >90% at Advocate Christ Medical Center, and earning the prestigious 2023 APIC Emerging Leader Award. Dr. Howard obtained a Doctorate in Health Science at the University of Indianapolis, she brings Lean Six Sigma, FMEA, and continuous improvement principles to every challenge. She also volunteers with Girl Scouts, mentoring the next generation of science and healthcare leaders.