A new study has shown that the fungus Candida auris, which causes a potentially deadly infection, is becoming more resistant to treatments and spreading faster in US health care facilities. The infection occurs most often in healthcare settings and long-term care facilities and is rare in healthy individuals. However, for people who are immune compromised or receive regular invasive treatments for other illnesses, it can often be fatal.
The first C. auris infection was reported in Japan in 2009 and has since been found in many other countries, including the US, which had its first confirmed case in 2016. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), C. auris still “presents a serious global health threat” today. The number of cases and anti-drug resistance of the infectious fungus have increased between 2019 and 2021, as per a new study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers conducted a new assessment of C. auris cases recorded in the US between 2019 and 2021, with a total of 10,683 cases recorded during this period. Out of the total, 3,270 of the cases were clinical infections, meaning the patient showed symptoms before being tested, and 7,413 cases were screening colonizations, meaning that people carried the fungus but showed no symptoms before being tested during routine screening.
The new study highlights that people carrying the fungus can still spread the pathogen, and they may develop symptoms of illness later on. The increasing anti-drug resistance of the fungus is a matter of concern for healthcare officials. As per a CDC report, the fungus has been reported in more than 30 countries and is resistant to all three major classes of antifungal drugs.
The CDC has advised healthcare facilities to follow infection prevention and control measures and conduct surveillance for C. auris to prevent its spread. The situation is alarming, and healthcare authorities need to take immediate action to address the growing threat posed by the C. auris fungus.