There's a Fungus Among Us

A relatively new fungus is spreading in the US, but it’s resistant to nearly all anti-fungal drugs. So, anyone infected may be on their own.  Candida auris or C. auris was first reported in the US in 2016. It can cause mild skin problems to severe blood stream infections. Symptoms depend on the location of the infection.  People can be colonized by C auris without any symptoms, which means they’re carrying the fungus and spreading it to other people and objects.  

This is why screening is important if there’s any doubt the person has it. They should be isolated to a separate room, and those going in and out should wear gowns and masks and wash their hands. In healthcare facilities, objects like bedrails, doorknobs, and blood pressure cuffs get contaminated and C. auris can survive for long periods of time, allowing it to spread to other people.   

The fungus can get inside the body through breathing and feeding tubes, catheters in a vein, and urinary catheters. Victims must rely on their immune systems to clear any infections from this fungus. C. auris cases have been reported in all but eleven states. In 2023, there were 4,500 reported cases, but that’s likely an undercount.  

We don’t know much about this fungus and how to deal with it. Scientists will need funding to develop a treatment, but many studies are at risk from cuts to federal agencies and to universities studying a myriad of diseases. C. auris is just one of them.