Drug-Resistant Candida Auris

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DRUG-RESISTANT CANDIDA AURIS THREAT LEVEL URGENT 323 Clinical cases in 2018 90% Isolates resistant to at least one antifungal 30% Isolates resistant to at least two antifungals Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast (a type of fungus). It can cause severe infections and spreads easily between hospitalized patients and nursing home residents. WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ■ C. auris, first identified in 2009 in Asia, has quickly become a cause of severe infections around the world. ■ C. auris is a concerning drug-resistant fungus: z Often multidrug-resistant, with some strains (types) resistant to all three available classes of antifungals z Can cause outbreaks in healthcare facilities z Some common healthcare disinfectants are less

effective at eliminating it z Can be carried on patients' skin without causing infection, allowing spread to others Data represents U.S. cases only. Isolates are pure samples of a germ. CASES OVER TIME C. auris began spreading in the United States in 2015. Reported cases increased 318% in 2018 when compared to the average number of cases reported in 2015 to 2017. U.S. Clinical Cases of C. auris 0 10 20 30 40 50 05/13 06/15 08/15 10/15 12/15 02/16 04/16 06/16 08/16 10/16 12/16 02/17 04/17 06/17 08/17 10/17 12/17 02/18 04/18 06/18 08/18 10/18 12/18

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DRUG-RESISTANT CANDIDA AURIS CONTAINING C. AURIS It seemed hard to believe. CDC fungal experts had never received a report describing a Candida infection resistant to all antifungal medications, let alone Candida that spreads easily between patients. After hearing the news that infections like this were identified by international colleagues in 2016, CDC sounded the alarm in the United States about C. auris, a life-threatening Candida species. Disease detectives from CDC and state and local health departments soon investigated some of the first U.S. C. auris infections. They learned more about how the fungus spreads, and how CDC, health departments, and healthcare facilities can contain it. A key finding was that C. auris spreads mostly in long- term

healthcare facilities among patients with severe medical problems. CDC and partners developed new tests to rapidly identify it, and continue to work with healthcare facilities to control spread. A GLOBAL THREAT Investigators still do not know why four different strains of C. auris emerged around the same time across the globe. All four strains have been found in the United States, likely introduced through international travel and subsequent spread in U.S. healthcare facilities. South American strain— Florida, Illinois, Massachusetts African strain— California, Florida, Indiana South Asian strain— California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Oklahoma East Asian strain— Florida, New York ONLINE RESOURCES About C. auris

www.cdc.gov/fungal/Candida-auris/index.html Information for Laboratorians and Healthcare Professionals www.cdc.gov/fungal/candida-auris/health-professionals.html This fact sheet is part of CDC's 2019 Antibiotic Resistance Threats Report. The full report, including data sources, is available at www.cdc.gov/DrugResistance/Biggest-Threats.html . CS298822-A