Candida Auris Infection Spreading Rapidly, CDC Warns of Urgent Antimicrobial Resistance Threat

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have issued a warning about the alarming spread of a deadly fungal infection known as Candida auris in the United States. According to the CDC report, the number of cases has nearly doubled in 2021, rising from 756 to 1,471. The majority of cases have been reported in hospitals and elderly care homes, and those with weak immune systems or using medical devices are at the highest risk of suffering from severe illness or even death.

The Candida auris infection is highly resistant to antifungal treatments, with the majority of cases testing immune to available treatments. For this reason, the CDC has classified it as an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat.” Symptoms of the infection may include fever, chills, and a blood infection that can lead to sepsis.

Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment of Candida Auris Infection

The CDC attributes the rise in cases to poor infection prevention practices at healthcare facilities and enhanced screening efforts. It may have also worsened due to the strain on healthcare and public health systems during the Covid-19 pandemic. To combat the spread of the infection, the CDC emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control.

While healthy people are not at risk from Candida auris, those with weak immune systems or using medical devices must take extra precautions to avoid exposure. If you or someone you know is at risk, it is important to seek medical attention immediately.