The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued a warning to healthcare facilities around the United States to be on the lookout for Candida auris, a deadly fungus that can cause serious and invasive infections. C. auris has already been detected in over half of all U.S. states and is spreading at an alarming rate. The fungus is mainly transmitted in healthcare settings like hospitals or nursing homes and is especially dangerous because it is resistant to antifungal drugs, making it difficult to treat.
Candida auris has also evolved to survive on surfaces and can be hard to identify with standard lab tests, further complicating efforts to contain the fungus. According to CDC estimates, between 30 to 60 percent of people with C. auris infections have died, and the fungus is most likely to spread to people with compromised immune systems. Health experts are calling for continued surveillance and expanded lab capacity to predict and stop the spread of the disease before it becomes a problem.
Healthcare facilities are urged to be vigilant in their infection prevention and control measures and to report any potential cases of C. auris to their state or local health department. With the fungus becoming increasingly resistant, health officials warn that it is more important than ever to follow infection prevention protocols to avoid the spread of the disease.
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