Health officials have turned their attention to the rapid propagation of a fungus that has been identified as an imperative antimicrobial resistance threat within healthcare facilities. This fungus, known as Candida auris or C. auris, possesses characteristics that make it a significant concern, from its resilience against multiple antifungal drugs to its capacity to cause severe infections, which often result in exceedingly high mortality rates, as stated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In the state of Michigan alone, 400 clinical cases, where the infection is evident, have been recorded since the year 2021. Besides these, an additional 1,216 screening cases have been reported, wherein this potentially lethal fungus was detected but had yet affected the patient. As of May 12, the state’s count for the current year had reached 70 clinical cases and 240 screening cases.
The fungus tends to be harmless to those in good health but poses a great risk to individuals who are seriously ill. Especially susceptible to infection are those who frequently stay for extended periods in healthcare facilities or use invasive medical devices like breathing tubes, feeding tubes, and catheters. This robust organism is capable of surviving on surfaces, objects and the patient’s skin for an extended period of time, making it a potential risk to others.
Different types of infections may exhibit manifold symptoms. For instance, C. auris can be found on a patient’s skin, or in their blood, urine, wounds, ears, and respiratory tract. For the last half-decade, the highest incidence of infections in Michigan has been observed in the Metro Detroit area, with the city of Detroit holding the lead, followed by the surrounding counties of Ingham, Washtenaw, Genesee, and Livingston.
First reported in the U.S. in 2016, C. auris has begun a rapid and worrying spread across healthcare facilities throughout 2020 and 2021. The CDC notes that cases resistant to the antifungal medicine echinocandins tripled in 2021. Reasons for an uptick in cases might be related to heightened screening activities, inadequate infection prevention and control measures, and the pressure on healthcare and public health systems due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As measures to counter this threat, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has initiated several actions focusing on surveillance and prevention, aiming to better equip healthcare facilities in managing patients with C. auris infections. Efforts include conducting a series of webinars on patient management, infection prevention recommendations, interfacility transfers, and transmission-based precautions.