Candida auris: 9 things to know about drug-resistant, potentially deadly fungus

ORLANDO, Fla. — Reports of infections from Candida auris are being seen at U.S. healthcare facilities at rates that are “concerning,” according to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study.

The CDC said Candida auris is a drug-resistant and potentially deadly fungus.

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Here are 9 things to know about the fungus, according to the CDC:

1. C. auris was first identified in 2009 in Japan. Retrospective review of Candida strain collections found that the earliest known strain of C. auris dates to 1996 in South Korea. CDC considers C. auris an emerging pathogen because increasing numbers of infections have been identified in multiple countries since it was recognized.

SEE: 9 things to know about Candida auris

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Candida auris The CDC said Candida auris is a drug-resistant and potentially deadly fungus. (WFTV.com News Staff)

Read: CDC warns of ‘dramatic increase’ in deadly fungal infections across US

2. It is often multidrug-resistant, meaning that it is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs commonly used to treat Candida infections.

3. Specialized laboratory methods are needed to accurately identify C. auris. Conventional laboratory techniques could lead to misidentification and inappropriate management, making it difficult to control the spread of C. auris in healthcare settings.

Read: CDC issues warning amid rise of drug-resistant bacteria

4. It has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings. For this reason, it is important to quickly identify C. auris in a hospitalized patient so that healthcare facilities can take special precautions to stop its spread.

5. People who have recently spent time in nursing homes and have lines and tubes that go into their body (such as breathing tubes, feeding tubes and central venous catheters), seem to be at highest risk for C. auris infection. Infections have been found in patients of all ages, from preterm infants to the elderly. Further study is needed to learn more about risk factors for C. auris infection.

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6. C. auris infections have been reported from over 30 countries, including the United States.

7. According to CDC data, there were 349 C. auris infections in Florida between January 2022 and December 2022. That’s the third most in the country behind California and Nevada.

8. C. auris can spread in healthcare settings through contact with contaminated environmental surfaces or equipment, or from person to person. More work is needed to further understand how it spreads.

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9. Based on information from a limited number of patients, 30–60% of people with C. auris infections have died. However, many of these people had other serious illnesses that also increased their risk of death.

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