Outbreak of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection in Washington State Raises Concerns
An outbreak of a drug-resistant fungal infection in Washington state has raised concerns among health officials. The infection, known as Candida auris, is rare but has a high mortality rate, is resistant to antifungal medications, and can easily spread in healthcare facilities. The Seattle and King County public health department announced on Tuesday that three confirmed cases of Candida auris infection had been identified, following an initial case that was confirmed on January 10.
Candida auris is a type of fungus that grows as yeast and can cause severe illness. It is typically resistant to antifungal medications, making it difficult to treat. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has warned about the spread of Candida auris in healthcare facilities, labeling it an “urgent antimicrobial resistant threat.”
All four infected individuals were patients at Kindred Hospital Seattle. The first case was detected through a proactive screening program during admission to the hospital. The other three patients initially tested negative for the fungus but were later found to be positive, indicating that they were infected during their stay at the hospital.
Local officials are still investigating the source of the outbreak. In the meantime, they are working with Kindred Hospital to isolate infected patients and notify other facilities that admit patients who were previously at Kindred. These measures aim to prevent further transmission of the infection.
According to the CDC, there were 2,377 reported cases of Candida auris infections in the U.S. in 2022. Additionally, 5,754 individuals were found to have Candida auris on their body without being sick or having an active infection.
Candida auris was first identified in Japan in 2009 and cases have been reported in the U.S. since 2013. The number of cases has been steadily increasing each year, with a significant surge during the Covid pandemic between 2020 and 2021. The infection has been reported in 36 states, with the highest number of cases in New York, Illinois, New Jersey, California, and Florida. Around 90% of Candida auris strains are resistant to at least one antifungal, and 30% are resistant to at least two.
One of the reasons Candida auris spreads quickly is because it is often misdiagnosed as a different fungus and not treated properly. It can also survive on surfaces for at least two weeks, making it easy to transmit in healthcare facilities. In comparison, the coronavirus can survive on surfaces for up to three days.
Candida auris can cause severe infections and hospitalization, particularly in patients with underlying medical conditions. One in three people with an invasive Candida auris infection die. The infection can affect different parts of the body, including the heart, brain, blood, open wounds, or lungs. Symptoms can vary and may include fever, chills, soreness, rashes, low blood pressure, muscle aches, shortness of breath, cough, joint pain, pain while eating, fatigue, headache, or discolored and brittle nails.
Health officials are urging healthcare facilities to be vigilant in identifying and treating Candida auris infections to prevent further spread. The outbreak in Washington state serves as a reminder of the importance of infection control measures and the need for continued research and development of effective treatments for drug-resistant infections.