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Potentially deadly fungus on the rise: What you need to know
Cases of Candida auris (C. auris), a fungal infection that can be deadly, are on the rise globally.
In the U.S., they have been on the rise since 2016. In March of 2023, we reported on a surge reaching half the states in the U.S.
Most recently, new reports published in the American Journal of Infection Control found that reported clinical cases had risen from 5 in 2019 to 115 in 2023 – a considerable jump of 2,200 percent in four years.
So, what do you need to know about C. auris?
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What is C. auris?
C. auris is actually a yeast that belongs to a group of organisms known as fungi.
It may even sound familiar to you because the Candida species are the most common cause of fungal infection. Most of them, like C. albicans, produce mild infections in people. These can include issues like:
- Vaginal yeast infections
- Athlete’s foot
- Nail fungus
- Thrush infections of the mouth
These types of Candida infections are mostly treatable but can become chronic. That’s why Candida is sometimes referred to as a silent epidemic. Some forms of the Candida species have even been linked to brain changes akin to Alzheimer’s.
But C. auris is especially dangerous, and here’s why…
Why is C. auris so dangerous?
Doctors across the country, as well as the CDC, are on the lookout for C. auris infections because the fungus is multi-drug resistant.
This means that if you are infected, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to find a drug that will work against it. In fact, there are only three effective antifungal drugs available.
The fungus can also spread rapidly, survive even highly stringent infection control measures, live in fabrics like sheets and clothes and last on hard surfaces for at least 28 days.
That makes it very easy to be exposed, especially for people in a healthcare setting.
It can slip into your bloodstream through a simple cut or scrape, an IV, a catheter or other tubes that enter the body. C. auris can even colonize your skin, living in folds and creases, turning you into a carrier who can spread the fungus to your loved ones or surfaces in other settings.
“It will reach into every corner of the country for sure,” Dr. Peter Pappas, a professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, predicted during the surge in 2023. “The question is going to be how well can we control it?”
“By the time it shows up in a hospital, you know it’s been in the community for quite some time,” he said. “It’s just unclear how long that would be.”
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Who’s at risk from C. auris?
New research suggests that fungal infections now account for around six percent of all global deaths, so it’s vital to know your risks regarding C. auris.
The good news is that while anyone can be exposed to the fungus, most of us are able to fight it off.
However, some people are more susceptible than others. Those at the highest risk from the fungus are people who:
- Have been hospitalized for a long time
- Are in a nursing home
- Have a history of treatment with antifungal medications or antibiotics
- Have a compromised immune system due to issues like cancer or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
If you visit someone in a hospital or healthcare facility, the best recommendation to prevent C. auris infection is to regularly wash your hands with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
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Sources:
Changing Trends in the Sources and Volumes of Clinical Cultures with Candida auris at a Large Health System, 2019-2023 — American Journal of Infection Control
Worldwide fungal deaths twice as high as previously thought, research shows — The Telegraph
Increase in C. auris infection spurs new CDC measures — UCLA Health
Washington state faces first outbreak of a deadly fungal infection that’s on the rise in the US — NBCnews.com
By Dr. Adria Schmedthorst
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