A new US study reveals a rapid increase in cases of the fungal infection Candida auris (C. auris), with reported clinical cases rising from 5 in 2019 to 115 in 2023, a staggering 2,200% jump over four years.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has deemed C. auris an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat” in hospitals due to its high rate of non-response to treatments and resistance to common cleaners and disinfectants. The fungus spreads quickly in hospitals through equipment like catheters and breathing tubes, leading to serious illnesses and fatalities.
While the general public is at low risk, hospital patients who are already ill pose a significant threat. Bloodstream infections remain the most common, but soft tissue, bone, and cerebrospinal fluid infections are increasing. The CDC has issued recommendations for preventing C. auris spread, including diligent cleaning routines, single-patient rooms, and isolation procedures.
Early identification of colonized patients and prompt deployment of infection prevention strategies may impact bloodstream infection rates, according to the research published in the American Journal of Infection Control. As cases continue to rise globally, health experts are struggling to contain C. auris, which was first reported in Japan in 2009 and first appeared in the US in 2016.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/dangerous-fungal-infection-sees-a-dramatic-increase-in-us-hospitals