Candida auris fungus spreading in U.S. hospitals. Find out more about it.

Candida auris is a type of fungus that can cause severe infections in humans. It was first identified in 2009 in Japan, but since then, it has been reported in many countries around the world, including the United States, the United Kingdom, India, and South Africa.

Candida auris is of concern because it is resistant to many commonly used antifungal medications, making it difficult to treat. It can cause infections in the bloodstream, the ear, and the urinary tract, and it is particularly dangerous for people with weakened immune systems, such as those in hospitals and nursing homes.

The exact way in which Candida auris spreads is not fully understood, but it is believed to be transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, or through person-to-person contact.

Prevention of Candida auris infections involves proper infection control measures, such as hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and the use of personal protective equipment. Treatment of Candida auris infections may involve antifungal medications that are less commonly used or combination therapy.

Candida auris is still a relatively new and emerging pathogen, and there is ongoing research to better understand its biology, epidemiology, and treatment options.

Some more facts about Candida auris:

Candida auris is a relatively rare infection, but it has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings, particularly in intensive care units and long-term care facilities.

The mortality rate of Candida auris infections can be high, with some studies reporting rates as high as 30-60%, although this may be due in part to the fact that it is often found in people with underlying health conditions.

One of the challenges of diagnosing Candida auris infections is that it can be easily misidentified as other types of Candida, which can delay proper treatment. Accurate identification requires specialized laboratory testing.

Some of the risk factors for Candida auris infections include recent hospitalization, recent surgery, and the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics or antifungal medications.

The spread of Candida auris is of concern to public health officials because it is difficult to control and has the potential to cause large outbreaks. As such, surveillance and rapid response measures are important to prevent its spread.

There is ongoing research to develop new treatments for Candida auris, including new antifungal medications and alternative therapies like phage therapy, which uses viruses to target and kill the fungus.

There is ongoing research to develop new treatments for Candida auris, including new antifungal medications and alternative therapies like phage therapy, which uses viruses to target and kill the fungus.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that cases of potentially deadly fungal infections with Candida auris are spreading rapidly in U.S. healthcare facilities, with cases nearly doubling between 2020 and 2021. The number of cases rose by 44% to 476 in 2019, up from 330 in 2018, and subsequently 59% to 756 in 2020 and by an additional 95% to 1,471 in 2021. Additionally, there has been a tripling in 2021 of the number of cases that were resistant to echinocandins, the class of drugs most often recommended for treatment of the disease. This is a concerning trend that emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control. The rapid rise and geographic spread of cases is alarming and may have been exacerbated as the healthcare system was hit by pandemic-related stressors, such as staff and equipment shortages. People who are very sick, have invasive medical devices such as mechanical ventilators, or have long or frequent hospital stays are at particular risk for the infections.