Documentation of Candida auris spread globally 2019

Cases of Candida auris, a highly contagious fungal infection, increased drastically between 2019 and 2021, and echinocandin-resistant cases also rose. Echinocandins are first-line therapy for invasive Candida infections, including C auris. Improved detection and infection control practices are urgently needed to prevent the spread of C auris. The report is published in Annals of Internal Medicine.

Candida auris is a fungus that can cause severe infections and death, especially in healthcare facilities. It is often multidrug-resistant and spreads easily. Most transmission occurs in healthcare facilities, especially among residents of long-term care facilities or among persons with indwelling devices or mechanical ventilators.

Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used national surveillance data to describe recent changes in the U.S. epidemiology of C auris between 2019 and 2021. They found that clinical cases increased each year, and colonization screening volume and screening cases also rose. The number of C auris cases resistant to first-line treatment in 2021 was about three times that in each of the previous two years. According to the authors, the timing of this increased C auris spread and findings from public health investigations suggest it may have been exacerbated by pandemic-related strain on the healthcare and public health systems.