Candida Auris: An Emerging Multidrug-Resistant Fungal Pathogen in the United States and the Urgent Call for Action

Dear Editor,

Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging fungal pathogen first identified in Japan in 2009 and has since been reported in several countries, including the United States. It is a multidrug-resistant organism that can cause severe infections in vulnerable populations, such as those with compromised immune systems or critically ill. ¹ It’s a fungi with a family of Saccharomycetaceae and class Saccharomycetes.

According to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), C. auris is increasing in an alarming rate in USA. It was first reported in 2016 in USA, and from then till 31st December 2021, 3270 clinical cases and 7413 screening cases had been reported. ² Counts are still increasing in 2022 and 17 states has identified their first C. auris. ² C. auris infection may be indicated by a high fever and chills that persist despite taking medications. ³ Majority of the cases are multidrug resistant.

One of the challenges in addressing the C. auris outbreak is the difficulty in detecting and diagnosing the infection. C. auris is often misidentified as other Candida species, leading to delayed diagnosis and inappropriate treatment. This highlights the need for improved laboratory methods and clinical awareness of this emerging pathogen. In addition to the challenges in diagnosis, the management of C. auris infections is complicated by its resistance to multiple antifungal agents. Treatment options for C. auris are limited. In some cases, the organism has been found to be resistant to all 3 classes of antifungal drugs commonly used to treat Candida infections. This underscores the need to develop new antifungal agents and implement adequate infection control measures.^1-4

Moreover, the spread of C. auris is a complex issue that requires a multifaceted approach. Transmission of the organism has been linked to healthcare settings, with outbreaks occurring in hospitals and long-term care facilities. The transmission risk can be reduced by implementing effective infection prevention and control measures, such as hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and patient isolation.^1-4

Furthermore, artificial intelligence and machine learning have emerged as promising tools in diagnosing and managing infectious diseases, including C. auris infections. Recent studies have demonstrated the potential of machine learning algorithms in identifying patients at high risk of C. auris infection and predicting the likelihood of antifungal resistance. ⁵ These technologies can improve diagnostic accuracy and efficiency and facilitate personalized treatment plan development.

Bioinformatics can also be used to find the solution in the treatment. Several new molecular structures can be docked in the computational models to overcome the resistance. This will eventually help in the formation of new drugs. Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR) technology can be used to overcome the multidrug resistances. ⁶

The emergence of C. auris as a significant public health threat in the United States highlights the need for increased awareness and action to prevent and control its spread. Several recommendations can be made to address this issue:

1. Improved surveillance and reporting: Healthcare facilities should be required to report all cases of C. auris to public health authorities. This will enable better tracking of the spread of the fungus and facilitate early detection and response to outbreaks.

2. Enhanced infection prevention and control measures: Healthcare facilities must implement robust infection prevention and control measures to prevent the spread of C. auris. This includes using appropriate personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and disinfection.

3. Increased research and development: There is a critical need for increased research and development of new antifungal drugs and diagnostic tools for C. auris. This will help to address the growing problem of antifungal resistance and enable more effective treatment and management of the fungus.

4. Public education and awareness: Public education and awareness campaigns can raise awareness about C. auris and promote the best infection prevention and control practices. This can be achieved through targeted messaging and educational materials distributed through healthcare facilities and community-based organizations.

5. Isolation of immunocompromised patients: It is important to isolate the immunocompromised patients, that is, HIV patients, cancer patients, and steroid intake patients. A separate database should be created for the immunocompromised patients and regular basis screening is important. Regular surveillance in the hospitals are important. Regular microbiological testing in the air condition vents and ventilator machines are important. It is a high time to prepare a standardized operating protocol (SOP) and all the hospital authorities should follow that protocol very strictly.

Conclusively, the increasing cases of C. auris infections in the United States represent a significant threat to public health. The challenges in detecting, diagnosing, and managing these infections highlight the need for improved laboratory methods, clinical awareness, and new antifungal agent development. In addition, implementing effective infection prevention and control measures is crucial to preventing the spread of C. auris in healthcare settings. Artificial intelligence and machine learning also hold promise in addressing this emerging pathogen. We must work together to address this urgent public health threat.