The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in the United States is concerned about the rise of infections caused by Candida auris, or C. auris, and warns about its multidrug-resistant nature, difficulty in identifying it with standard laboratory methods, and its potential to cause outbreaks in healthcare facilities.
C. auris is a fungal infection that has caused bloodstream, wound, and ear infections, although it is uncertain whether it can cause infections in the lung or bladder. While the infections are usually diagnosed by culture of blood or other body fluids, C. auris is harder to identify than other types of Candida. People who have recently spent time in nursing homes and have lines and tubes that go into their body are at the highest risk of getting C. auris infections.
CDC suggests that patients who believe they have any fungal infection or healthcare-associated infection should see a healthcare provider immediately. Most C. auris infections are treatable with a class of antifungal drugs called echinocandins. However, some C. auris infections have been resistant to all three main classes of antifungal medications, making them more difficult to treat. Treatment decisions should be made in consultation with a healthcare provider experienced in treating patients with fungal infections.
C. auris was first identified in Japan in 2009, and it is considered an emerging pathogen by the CDC as an increasing number of infections have been identified in multiple countries since it was first recognized.
Infections have been reported from over 30 countries, including the United States. Although it is unlikely that routine travel to countries with documented C. auris infections would increase the chances of getting sick from C. auris, people who travel to these countries to seek medical care or who are hospitalized there for a long time may have an increased risk for C. auris infection.
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