April 13, 2019
Candida auris – A Dangerous Yeast
Candida auris is resistant to many anti-fungals and has recently been making its way around the world. If it makes its way into your bloodstream, it can cause a life threatening infection. Mostly found in hospitals and nursing homes, once Candida auris is present, it’s extremely difficult to get rid of.
What you need to know about Candida auris:
- 587 cases have been reported in the U.S., mostly in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois
- 90% of infections are resistant to at least one anti-fungal medication, and 30% are resistant to two or more
- Removing floors and ceilings is often necessary to rid facilities of the yeast
- Immune compromised patients are most at risk for contracting C. auris, including the elderly, infants, pregnant women, and those who are chronically ill or on a medication that weakens the immune system
- If you are healthy and spend little or no time in hospitals or nursing homes, you probably have nothing to worry about. If you or a loved one are currently hospitalized or living in a nursing home, you can ask the hospital staff if there have been Ccases within the facility. If there have been, you might want to look into whether the appropriate precautions have been taken to control infection. New York Times
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