This is Optim1 facing off against the COVID19 virus.

Optim1 to Face-Off Against Fungi Leave a comment

With the Coronavirus still in full-effect and on our minds 24/7, it’s become harder and harder to draw the line. The line between illnesses that is, but not in the way that you may expect. Ever since the first quarantine and massive SARS-COVID19 case rises. The only sickness that people had was, according to others, COVID-19. It’s like the flu and the common cold didn’t exist for a long while. Likely because people have such a one-track mind to this virus sometimes.

And considering how many millions of other illnesses of any severity that are getting pushed to the sidelines, that’s not a good sign. Which is why in this article here, we’re going to tell you about a different kind of pathogen who’s name crossed our desktops recently. However, this pathogen was just discovered in 2009, so what name has it managed to give itself in just a decade in the shadows?

The Cause 

The kind of infection this pathogen can cause is called Candidiasis, or colloquially, a yeast infection. Described specifically as such: “a fungal infection typically on the skin or mucous membranes caused by candida.”

Meet Candida auris (or C. auris for short), a multi-drug resistant yeast/fungi responsible for infections first spotted in Japan in 2009. Though research dictates that this strain of the Candida fungi could’ve potentially been around since 1996, located somewhere in South Korea. C. auris is a form of infection-causing yeast/fungi that has made it’s mark on at last 30 countries to date. It comes from the Candida genus of yeast, the most common cause of worldwide fungal infections. This genus includes around 45 variations, many harmless but others are the complete opposite. Causing severe infections anywhere on the body, and can even cause death in some instances.

C. auris gets its name from the word of Latin origin, auris, meaning “ear”. This being due to this variant of the fungus being found in the ear canal of a 70-year old woman. And in relation, C. auris can cause bodily infections through invasive candidiasis, which is an invasion of the bloodstream. And this, in turn, can affect many vital areas of the body. However this variant affects the elderly and those with preexisting serious medical problems. Which mean C. auris is mainly spread through hospitals and nursing homes, and we’ll get into that later.

And while there are already some listed dangerous variants of the Candina genus, C. auris managed to make its way onto the CDC’s 2019 AMR Urgent Threat list.

Why Is It A Problem? 

Anywhere you look to for research on C. auris will most definitely ask this same question. And we’ll answer it all the same. This pathogen recently came back with a vengeance in 2019 and made us remember why it was such a pest before.

1.) The kind of infections it can cause. – We talked about this part in our previous paragraphs, so this is no surprise. Bloodstream infections are severe, and 1 in 3 patients with this kind of infection die. But the demographic is usually the nursing home patients and/or those with serious medical conditions. Which leads directly to point 2.

2.) It can spread to hospitals and nursing homes. – Like any infection, C. auris can spread through contact with an infected patient and any contaminated equipment. And it affects those with serious medical conditions, or co-morbidities, already. And in nursing homes or any basic healthcare facility, that is not good at all. Remember to practice good cleaning and hygiene around the facility, as C. auris can live on surfaces for up to two weeks.

3.) It is multi-drug resistant. – So usually Candina family viruses are wiped out by most antifungal medicine. Not C. auris though, its been shown that varying percentages of the auris are resistant to fluconazole, voriconazole, and amphotericin.

4.) It is hard to identify. – This is true, C. auris is commonly mistaken for other variations of the Candina fungi. This can lead to inappropriate management as you can potentially be treated for the wrong kind should that happen.

5.) It is more common. – It’s shown that since its surge in 2009, it has infected more than a dozen countries according to the CDC themselves.

What We Recommend

The problem with C. auris is that it currently does not have a vaccine. And due to its uncanny resistance to the standard anti-fungal medication, the difficulty is only increased. Seems the only way to end it is to not let it have the chance to begin. Healthy cleaning guidelines for both staff and their stuff should drastically improve your chances of not having to worry about C. auris. But we’d like to point you towards a product that can be your helping hand through it all.

To help prevent another auris invasion, we recommend Optim1 wipes. Scican Optim has a couple different wipes, but the Optim1 just have the best features that will help you take full advantage ofThis is a case of Optim1 Disposable Disinfectant Cleaner Wipes the situation. Optim1 wipes have a 1-minute contact time for standard surface safety normally, which is great enough. But it also works as a fast-acting, 30-second fungicidal disinfectant. And as we mentioned before, the best way to deal with a potential outbreak is to stop it before it can begin. Which is why Optim1 Wipes are our recommendation to you. They’re in the lowest category, cat. IV, on the EPA’s toxicity category, so you’ll have no worries about personal harm or damaging chemicals. And you only need half the amount that normal wipes need for Optim to stay moist long enough to sterilize whatever you need it to.

Final Thoughts 

When the world is as it is now, dealing with one big name virus, the last thing we need is another name to start a path of infamy. And thankfully, Optim1 Wipes can fight both without trouble. Not only will it keep C. auris from making a resurgence, but they’ll help prevent the spread of COVID-19 as well. With a deal like that, it’s hard to pass up. And if you just want to talk to someone for any questions you may have, call our Free Tech Support at 704-966-1650 Option 3.


As always if you have any questions about this process or anything else please feel free to contact us and take advantage of ourFREE TECH SUPPORT.”

We also offer FREE VIRTUAL TECH SUPPORT to “See and Talk” with a “Real Time Live Technician” for any problems you may be in need of help with.

You can also use ourFREE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM”. Take the guesswork and worrying about what unit is due for maintenance and which maintenance cycle it is time for. We will keep track of all your autoclaves and let you know when it’s time for anything.


The Optim1 One-Step Disinfection Wipes are available here.

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