Deadly Superbug Candida Auris Has Skirted PA Thus Far

As the number of cases involving a drug-resistant fungal infection rises in several nearby states, there's reasonable cause for concern in Pennsylvania.

Cases of Candida auris, a serious and sometimes fatal fungus that is emerging globally, have been identified in New Jersey, New York, Maryland, and nine more states around the country, according to the CDC.

All told, there have been 587 cases across the country, as of Tuesday.

Most of those cases are near Pennsylvania, though it has not yet managed to cross the Delaware. A total of 309 of are in New York. And recently, the New Jersey Department of Health said that the number of cases in the state had quadrupled, from 22 in June 2015 to 104 in Feb. 2019.

The CDC said it's concerned about the infection because it's difficult to identify, resistant to multiple drugs, and can easily spread in hospitals.

C. auris is a form of yeast, though its origin is unknown.

"It is a creature from the black lagoon," Dr. Tom Chiller, of the CDC, told The New York Times. "It bubbled up and now it is everywhere."

The infection was first discovered in Japan in 2009. It has since been found in Canada, England, Russia, Australia and Colombia.

"Candida auris is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat," the CDC says. "Patients can remain ... with C. auris for a long time and C. auris can persist on surfaces in healthcare environments. This can result in spread of C. auris between patients in healthcare facilities."

This yeast is difficult to identity and often does not respond to commonly used anti-fungal drugs, leading to high mortality, according to Rutgers University officials.

Based on information from a limited number of patients, the CDC says, 30–60 percent of people with C. auris infections have died. However, many of these people had other serious illnesses that also increased their risk of death.

Fungal infections often cause serious disease among patients with compromised immune systems or other debilitating conditions resulting in high morbidity and mortality. Globally, nearly 1.4 million deaths a year are attributed to invasive fungal infections, which is on par with deadly diseases like tuberculosis, according to the CDC.

Here are ways to avoid contracting the disease:

• One of the best ways to prevent the spread of dangerous germs like C. auris in healthcare settings is good hand hygiene. Washing hands frequently can help prevent its spread.
• Early and accurate identification, rigorous infection control practices, and communication between facilities are key to reducing the spread in healthcare settings.
• Proper infection control involves consistent handwashing, use of personal protective equipment and cleaning and disinfection of medical equipment and the healthcare environment.
• When patients are transferred to other healthcare facilities, the receiving facilities should be notified of C. auris infection and the level of precautions recommended.

With reporting from Patch correspondents Tom Davis and Bea Karnes