CDC Report Reveals Alarming Increase in Cases of Deadly Fungus Candida auris

A new report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has revealed that clinical cases of Candida auris, an emerging fungus considered an urgent threat, nearly doubled in 2021.

The research, published Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine, evaluated cases of C. auris reported to the CDC from 2016 – the year in which cases were first reported in the US – to 2021. The study authors found that clinical cases increased each year, rising from 53 in 2016 to 330 in 2018 and then skyrocketing from 476 in 2019 to 1,471 in 2021.

The report also showed that there was a tripling of the number of cases resistant to echinocandins, the first-line treatment for Candida auris infections. This is concerning, as C. auris is resistant to most drugs and has been linked to serious illnesses and even death.

The director of the National Reference Centre for Invasive Fungus Infections, Oliver Kurzai, said that the rise in cases of C. auris is “alarming” and that health care facilities need to be aware of the threat posed by the fungus. He added that it is important for health care providers to be aware of the signs and symptoms of C. auris infection and to take appropriate precautions to prevent its spread.

The CDC is urging health care providers to take steps to prevent the spread of C. auris, such as using proper infection control practices, including hand hygiene, and following the CDC’s recommendations for the diagnosis and management of C. auris infections. The agency also recommends that health care facilities consider testing for C. auris in patients with unexplained fever or other signs of infection.