CDC Warns Against Rising Fungus Rates in Healthcare Facilities

On March 20, 2023, the CDC warned against rising rates of an antimicrobial-resistant fungus, Candida auris (C. auris), across healthcare facilities. The statement was supported by data collected in 2020 and 2021 and published in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Candida auris is a fungus that can be resistant to all three types of antifungal medications — azoles, polyenes, and allylamine/thiocarbamates. First discovered in 2009, the rates of this fungal infection have continued to rise, with the first case in the United States being reported in 2016.

Data from the CDC suggests that, from the discovery of C. auris in the US to December 31, 2021, there have been 3,270 clinical cases in which the fungus caused an infection. Furthermore, there have been 7,413 screening cases where the fungus was detected but was not the source of infection.

Between 2019 and 2021, 17 states identified their first cases of the infection. In the same time frame, clinical cases nationwide jumped from 476 to 1,471. In addition, the number of screening cases rose by three times to 4,041.

“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 Meghan Lyman, MD.

According to the CDC, infections with C. auris can cause symptoms, including fever and chills. Approximately one-third of the cases with an invasive version of the fungal infection is fatal.

Often patients with this condition contract it in addition to another infection, making it difficult to diagnose. However, one indicator of a C. auris infection is if fever and chills do not improve with antibiotic treatment. Despite symptoms indicating an infection, the presence of the fungus must be confirmed through laboratory testing.

The CDC believes multiple factors contribute to these rising rates, including poor infection prevention control and strains on the healthcare system. To manage the condition and minimize infections, the organization recommends good public health practices, including hand washing, adequate cleaning of patient rooms, and monitoring and reporting cases.