United States: New instances of a virulent, drug-defiant fungus have been pinpointed within hospital networks spanning at least two states.
Identified as Candida auris, or C. auris, the fungus was first detected within US borders in 2016. Since its initial discovery, its prevalence has surged annually, with a sharp escalation noted in 2023, as per the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Georgia’s health department recently confirmed a notable spike in cases, as reported by WJCL. Additionally, a fresh study concentrating on Miami’s Jackson Health System uncovered a rapid proliferation of the fungus.
The CDC has categorized Candida auris as a “grave antimicrobial resistance menace” due to its resistance to antifungal treatments, complicating therapeutic efforts, according to The Hill.
“When faced with an infection from this pathogen, particularly one that resists standard treatment protocols, our medical options become severely constrained,” remarked Melissa Nolan, an epidemiology and biostatistics assistant professor at the University of South Carolina, during a discussion with Nexstar.
Individuals with robust immune defenses might fend off the infection unaided. However, Candida auris predominantly spreads within healthcare facilities where patients are often immunocompromised. Those relying on catheters, breathing apparatuses, feeding conduits, or PICC lines are especially susceptible since these devices offer the pathogen a direct entryway into the body.
Pinpointing the infection remains challenging since its symptoms, such as fever and chills, mirror those of other infections.
A further concern lies in the fungus’s tenacity on inanimate surfaces, from countertops to bedrails and door handles.
“It possesses an uncanny ability to endure within the environment,” Nolan elaborated. “Even if surfaces appear sanitized, residual pathogens may persist, gradually adapting and gaining resistance. Over time, this resilience exacerbates its presence within medical settings,” as per reports by The Hill.
While the most recent outbreaks have been observed in Georgia and Florida, Candida auris has infiltrated nearly all states, leaving only 12 unaffected. The fungus’s prevalence notably surged between 2022 and 2023.
New York leads the nation with 1,795 reported cases, trailed by Illinois (1,627), California (1,566), and Florida (1,485). Nevada recorded 1,008 cases, while Texas reported 750. Other states grappling with significant caseloads include New Jersey (491), Indiana (304), Georgia (219), Maryland (203), and Arizona (179). Moderate numbers were noted in Michigan (149), Virginia (151), Tennessee (107), and the District of Columbia (97). Lesser-impacted states such as Alabama (19), Arkansas (10), Connecticut (8), Minnesota (8), Missouri (4), Oregon (4), Nebraska (2), and Utah (1) remain cautious amid the nationwide spread, as reported by The Hill.
According to previous CDC estimations, approximately “30–60% percent of individuals diagnosed with C. auris infections have succumbed to the disease.” However, it’s noteworthy that many affected individuals grappled with preexisting severe health conditions, which heightened their mortality risk.