Deadly fungal infection is spreading in US hospitals, CDC says

Cases of Candida auris, a potentially deadly fungus that is resistant to drugs, are surging at an “alarming” rate in American healthcare facilities. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that the number of infected patients with Candida auris, also known as C. auris, almost doubled in 2021, accounting for 1,471 cases. This is an increase of 59% from 2019 to 2020 when there were 756 cases reported. The fungus is now widespread in 30 states and Washington, D.C.

Patients who have weakened immune systems, invasive medical equipment, or have long stays in healthcare settings are at a higher risk of developing a severe illness caused by C. auris. The fungus is not considered life-threatening to healthy individuals. According to the CDC, the fungus is usually resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, spreads rapidly in healthcare settings, and can cause severe infections.

CDC’s epidemiologist, Dr. Meghan Lyman, urged for the need to expand lab capacity, faster diagnostic tests, and continued surveillance of C. auris. She emphasized that there is a need for adherence to infection control protocols that have been proven.

The alarming surge in cases of C. auris infections is an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat,” warns the CDC. Antimicrobial resistance is a situation when microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi become resistant to drugs that are intended to kill them. The United Nations issued a report estimating that climate change and pollution could contribute to the rise of drug-resistant infections, causing up to 10 million deaths annually by 2050.

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