Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published in the Annals of Internal Medicine reveals that C. auris spread rapidly in US healthcare facilities in 2020-2021

Candida auris, also referred to as C. auris, is a multidrug-resistant yeast that has raised alarms in recent years due to its ability to cause severe infections, particularly in individuals with weakened immune systems.

First identified in 2009 in Tokyo, it has rapidly emerged as a global risk in clinical settings and was declared an urgent health threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since its discovery, C. auris has spread to numerous locations worldwide. In 2016, it was detected for the first time in the United States, specifically at a hospital in New York. Currently, it has been found in 28 states and the District of Columbia. According to the CDC, over the past year, C. auris has infected just over 2,300 people in the U.S. and has been spreading at an alarming rate.

While the exact origins of C. auris remain unknown, early research suggests that rising global temperatures resulting from climate change may have played a role in its evolution to thrive inside the human body.

C. auris is often found on surfaces in healthcare settings, such as in patient rooms, bathrooms, and operating rooms.
It can also be found on medical equipment, such as stethoscopes, thermometers, and blood pressure cuffs.
It can spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, or from person to person.
It is more likely to spread in healthcare settings where there is poor hand hygiene and cleaning practices.
There is no vaccine to prevent C. auris infection.

The increase in C. auris cases may have been exacerbated by the strain on healthcare and public health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic, along with climate change and increased resistance to antifungal drugs, has contributed to a surge in pathogenic fungal infections globally.

In October 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) released a list of 19 fungal priority pathogens, including C. auris, highlighting their threat to public health. These priority pathogens were categorized based on critical, high, and medium priority, addressing the urgent need for research and development to combat fungal infections.

Recent data from the CDC published in the Annals of Internal Medicine revealed that C. auris spread rapidly in US healthcare facilities in 2020-2021.

In March this year CDC said that C. auris is not a threat to healthy people. ”People who are very sick, have invasive medical devices, or have long or frequent stays in healthcare facilities are at increased risk for acquiring C. auris,” the leading US based public health organization said.

The CDC has deemed C. auris as an urgent AR threat, because it is often resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, spreads easily in healthcare facilities, and can cause severe infections with high death rates.

“The rapid rise and geographic spread of cases is concerning and emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control,” said CDC epidemiologist Dr Meghan Lyman.

The risk factors

The C. auris is particularly worrisome because it is challenging to identify and even more difficult to treat. The most common method of testing for the infection, standard blood tests, fail to detect the fungus in 50 percent of cases.

The infection is not something you’ll catch at the gym, and your children won’t get it at school. However, if you regularly receive medical care or spend time in healthcare settings, it’s important to be aware of the risks associated with this fungus.

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