An “urgent threat” is how the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention describe an emerging fungus. The fungus, Candida auris (C. auris), is resistant to multiple antifungal medications. Testing bodily fluids can identify the yeast. The Candida auris fungal infection has caused concern among the CDC due to its similarity to other yeasts, which may lead to misdiagnosis and make containment more challenging.
According to the report, individuals with invasive medical devices like mechanical ventilators, prolonged or frequent hospitalizations, or serious illnesses are at a heightened risk of contracting infections from Candida auris. This is due to the weakening of their immune systems.
On Monday, researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the count of individuals diagnosed with Candida auris fungal infection, as well as those detected to be carrying the pathogen through screening, has been escalating at an alarming pace ever since it was first discovered in the United States.
Since 2016, reports of Candida auris infection have been made yearly, with its most rapid rise occurring between 2020 and 2021. Candida auris has been reported in over 30 nations.
The number of Candida auris (C. auris) cases detected through screening experienced a threefold increase from 2020 to 2021, reaching 4,041. In the meantime, instances that led to a verifiable infection surged from 476 in 2019 to 1,471 in 2021.
Seventeen states identified their first case of Candida auris (C. auris) ever between 2019 and 2021.
High fever with chills that do not get better after taking antibiotics may be a sign of Candida auris infection. Transmission can occur through person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated surfaces.
The CDC reported that 30% to 60% of infected individuals have died from the Candida auris Fungal Infection, but this is based on data from a limited number of patients.
Although not typically a danger to healthy individuals, Severe illness can result if Candida auris infiltrates the bloodstream and disseminates throughout the body. This type of yeast can cause not only bloodstream infections but also ear and wound infections. Sometimes, it can exist in individuals without causing any symptoms or illness. This implies that the fungus can reside on people’s skin without their knowledge, facilitating its dissemination to others.
In an interview, Dr. Meghan Lyman, the chief medical officer in the CDC’s Mycotic Diseases Branch and lead author of the study, expressed concern over the recent increases. “Especially in the most recent years, the increases are concerning to us,” she stated. “We’ve observed an escalation not only in areas where transmission is already occurring but also in new areas.”
What are the Candida auris symptoms?
High fever with chills that do not get better after taking antibiotics may be a sign of Candida auris infection.
How Candida auris transmission occur?
Transmission can occur through person-to-person contact or contact with contaminated surfaces.
What kills candida auris naturally or Is there a cure?
The CDC stated that the majority of Candida auris infections can be cured with a specific group of antifungal medications.
Nonetheless, Candida auris frequently displays resistance to multiple drugs, with certain strains resistant to all three of the antifungals presently obtainable for treatment.
In situations involving multidrug-resistant infections, patients might need to undergo treatment with numerous diverse classes of antifungal remedies administered at high dosages.