Drug-resistant fungus ‘acting like a superbug’ in U.S. hospitals
A so-called “superfungus” resistant to the typical antifungal medications is showing up in U.S. hospitals, particularly in New York and New Jersey.
The Associated Press reports the fungus is a harmful form of yeast called Candida auris. It was first identified in Japan in 2009, and 66 cases have been reported in the U.S. since 2013, most of them in the past year.
What has safety officials spooked is how resilient it can be. The fungus tends to infect wounds, ears and the bloodstream in vulnerable patients who have been admitted for several weeks. It can be hard to identify in a lab and even more difficult to eliminate. In a study of a Colombian outbreak presented at a Centers for Disease Control (CDC) conference this week, researchers said the fungus remained on hospital surfaces and on the skin of nurses and patients even after antifungal treatments had been used.
“It's acting like a superbug" bacteria, said the CDC’s Paige Armstrong, MD.
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John joined TriMed in 2016, focusing on healthcare policy and regulation. After graduating from Columbia College Chicago, he worked at FM News Chicago and Rivet News Radio, and worked on the state government and politics beat for the Illinois Radio Network. Outside of work, you may find him adding to his never-ending graphic novel collection.