A multidrug-resistant yeast is spreading in 23 states.
Candida auris is a yeast that can cause severe, sometimes fatal infections, particularly in patients who are already seriously ill.
CDC screening data recorded 3,130 cases across 23 states.
Those were screening detections of people carrying the fungus, rather than a count of active infections. The figure also does not represent every state where Candida auris has been found.
Carrying the fungus without symptoms is called colonization. It can remain on a patient’s skin or other body sites for a long time, spreading onto bedrails, furniture, and shared medical equipment.
From there, it can reach other patients.
People requiring complex medical care are especially vulnerable. Catheters and breathing or feeding tubes can provide pathways for the fungus to enter the body.
Healthy people generally face a low risk of becoming ill.
Drug resistance makes some infections difficult to treat. Most can still be treated with antifungal medicines called echinocandins, but some strains resist all three major antifungal drug classes.
A positive screening result alone does not mean someone needs medication. The CDC recommends treating clinical infections, not colonization without signs or symptoms of infection.
However, both infected and colonized patients need appropriate infection-control precautions.
Healthcare facilities can reduce transmission through screening, hand hygiene, protective clothing, and disinfectants effective against Candida auris. Shared equipment needs careful cleaning between patients.
Patients can remain colonized even after an infection has been treated, making communication between facilities essential.
Patients and families should follow staff precautions, clean their hands, and tell healthcare providers about previous positive Candida auris tests.
Learn more:
“Candida Auris: Drug-Resistant ‘Superbug’ Spreading in 23 States, CDC Says.” Healthline