The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled it an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat” because it is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs and can cause life-threatening infections in vulnerable patients.
The CDC reported more than 4,000 new clinical cases of C. auris in March 2023, describing its presence in healthcare facilities as a growing concern. First identified in the United States in 2016, the fungus has shown an alarming rise in cases each year, particularly within hospitals and other medical facilities where patients with compromised immune systems are most at risk.
A new study published in the American Journal of Infection Control on March 17 revealed that clinical cultures of C. auris collected across the US between 2019 and 2023 have increased by a staggering 580% from 2019 to 2020, followed by rises of 251% in 2021, 46% in 2022, and 7% in 2023. Researchers, primarily from the University of Miami, concluded that the volumes of clinical cultures containing C. auris have grown rapidly along with the variety of sources of infection.
Georgia has been one of the hardest-hit states, with over 1,300 cases detected by the end of February, according to JoAnna Wagner of the Georgia Department of Public Health. Wagner pointed out that many disinfectants traditionally used by hospitals are ineffective against the fungus, making containment and eradication efforts even more challenging.
According to Dr. Marc Siegel, a senior medical analyst for Fox News and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone, the emergence of C. auris is a problem of significant concern. He noted that the fungus tends to spread within hospital settings, often on medical equipment such as ventilators and catheters used by immunocompromised patients. Siegel warned that symptoms like fever, chills, and aches can easily be mistaken for other infections, complicating diagnosis and treatment.
The persistence of the fungus on surfaces is another troubling factor.
Melissa Nolan, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina, explained that C. auris is particularly good at surviving on various surfaces such as bedrails, countertops, and doorknobs. If even a small number of pathogens are not effectively cleaned, they can continue to grow and spread throughout the hospital environment.
The CDC has stated that the fungus is not considered a threat to healthy individuals. However, those who are already sick or require medical devices like catheters, breathing tubes, and feeding tubes are at heightened risk. The infection has now been found in all but 12 states, with a substantial spike in cases between 2022 and 2023.
While ongoing research aims to develop new treatments, the issue is part of a broader concern of rising antimicrobial resistance in the United States and globally. Healthcare facilities in Georgia and elsewhere are resorting to using specialized EPA-certified cleaners to target the fungus, but containment remains a formidable challenge.
According to the CDC, the fatality rate for individuals infected with C. auris is estimated to be between 30% and 60%, although many patients had other serious health conditions that contributed to their deaths. As hospitals continue to battle this resilient fungus, the need for effective sterilization and disinfection measures remains a priority.