A drug-resistant fungus that can be deadly in health-care settings has been confirmed in 23 states, with Texas and Michigan leading the U.S. in the number of cases.
While the Candida auris fungus has been reported in Florida in past years, as of Aug. 5, no cases have been documented in the state, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
The fungus can survive a long time on surfaces, is not killed by many standard disinfectants, is highly transmissible, and often multidrug-resistant.
Here’s what you should know.
What is candida auris?
Candida auris is a fungus that presents a serious global health risk, according to the Florida Department of Health, which cited three concerns about the fungus:
How many cases reported in US of dangerous fungus?
According to the CDC, there have been 3,130 cases reported in the U.S. since Jan. 1.
Texas leads the U.S. in the number of cases, 706, followed by Michigan with 503 cases.
How many cases of deadly fungus reported in Florida?
As of the latest update through July 18 from the CDC, no reported cases of Candida auris have been reported in Florida this year.
There have been cases of the fungal infection in the past.
From 2017 to Jan. 24, 2022, the Florida Department of Health identified 325 people with Candida auris infections inFlorida.
During that period, most Florida cases were the result of “local transmission in health-care settings, especially in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities providing ventilator care.”
The CDC reports 1,956 cases of Candida auris in Florida between 2013 and 2024.
How dangerous is this drug-resistant fungus?
Candida auris can be deadly.
The CDC estimated 30% to 60% of people with Candida auris infections have died, though many of those patients also had other serious health conditions that increased their risk.
The fungus “can cause severe illness and spread easily among very sick patients in health-care facilities,” according to the CDC.
“C. auris is often resistant to antifungal medications, meaning the fungus develops the ability to defeat the drugs designed to kill it. That means the germs are not killed and continue to grow. Resistant infections can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to treat.”
Fungus can stay on surfaces for weeks
C. auris is an organism that persists on surfaces for weeks, according to the Florida Department of Health.
“High-touch surfaces should be cleaned frequently and routinely to protect patients/residents and staff. Examples ofhigh-touch areas include,” but are not limited to:
Who is most at risk for candida auris infection?
Healthy individuals usually do not get infected with C. auris, according to the Florida Department of Health.
“Most people who develop C. auris infections have severe underlying medical conditions and require complex medical care. C. auris mostly affects” those with:
What are the symptoms caused by the dangerous fungal infection?
Symptoms are dependent on the part of the body affected and can vary greatly, according to the Florida Department of Health.
Candida auris can cause many different types of infection, such as:
“Patients/residents with C. auris are often already sick with another serious illness or condition, so symptoms may not be noticeable,” FDOH said.
“There is not a common set of symptoms specific for C. auris infections.”
Cheryl McCloud is a journalist for the USA TODAY Network-Florida’s service journalism Connect team. You can get all of Florida’s best content directly in your inbox each weekday day by signing up for the free newsletter, Florida TODAY, at https://floridatoday.com/newsletters.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Deadly ‘superbug’ fungus spreads to 23 states. Is Florida one of them?
Reporting by Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / Fort Myers News-Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Cheryl McCloud, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida | USA TODAY Network
