The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning regarding the rapid spreading of a potentially lethal and drug-resistant fungus in US hospitals.
The disease, known as Candida auris, is causing severe bloodstream infections and fatalities in individuals with weakened immune systems.
CDC issues global health threat as deadly fungus spreading in US hospitals
The number of cases has surged in recent years, according to a report published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
There has been a sharp rise of 95% in 2021, from 756 in 2020 to 1,471 cases. According to CDC data, the number of clinical cases reported in 2022 was 2,377 and continues to increase.
As per CDC, Candida auris is a significant global health concern. The agency reports that over one-third of patients with infections of the blood, heart, or brain die from the disease.
The fungus spreads easily in hospitals and nursing homes through person-to-person contact, as well as contact with contaminated surfaces and equipment.
Furthermore, the fungus can persist on surfaces for weeks, as stated by the CDC. Treating Candida auris infections is challenging since it often cannot be cured with conventional antifungal medicines, exacerbating the surge in infections.
The report authors state that the count of drug-resistant strains of the Candida auris fungus is on the rise. Health officials are alarmed by the escalation of untreatable cases and evidence of worsening transmission.
The fungal disease has been identified in over half of the US states. Health officials think that the number of infections surged during the COVID-19 pandemic, as some healthcare centers stopped admission screenings for the fungus.
The authors of the study emphasized that enhanced detection and infection control practices are essential to halt the further dissemination of the fungus.
One researcher thinks the spread of disease can be prevented
The drug resistance of C. auris has been monitored by scientists, TIME reported. Furthermore, the fungus has undergone significant changes in a short duration, causing concern among experts.
“I can only think of one other report of a pan-resistant Candida. The difference is that it was never resistant to all three antifungals at the same time,” says Johanna Rhodes, a researcher at Imperial College London.
She is positive that the infections can be controlled.
“We’ve actually seen a lot of facilities in areas that have prevented and even stopped transmission,” she remarked. The solution will be “really rigorous infection control and good communication.”
