US Candida auris cases continue to rise

The number of confirmed and probable cases of Candida auris in the United States has jumped to 463, according to the latest update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), up from 349 in July.

As of Sep 30, infections caused by the multidrug-resistant fungus have been identified in 11 states, with the vast majority of confirmed cases reported in New York (239), New Jersey (94), and Illinois (80). Cases have also been reported in Massachusetts (7), Florida (4), Maryland (3), Oklahoma (2), California (1), Connecticut (1), Indiana (1), and Texas (1). Of the 463 clinical cases identified, 433 are laboratory-confirmed and 30 are listed as probable.

The CDC also said that targeted screening in six states with clinical cases has identified an additional 801 patients who are colonized with C auris. The screening is being conducted as part of an effort to control the spread of the fungus, which can persist on surfaces in healthcare facilities and spread between patients.

Originally identified in Japan in 2009, C auris has caused outbreaks in healthcare settings in more than 20 countries and has shown resistance to the three major classes of antifungal drugs used to treat Candida infections. In patients with compromised immune systems, it can cause serious invasive infections affecting the bloodstream, heart, brain, ear, and bones. The CDC estimates that 30% to 60% of patients with invasive C auris infections have died.

C auris was made a nationally notifiable condition at the 2018 Council for State and Territorial Epidemiologists annual conference in August.

Source: CIDRAP