New Superbug Candida Auris causing severe illness now found in US

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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that there were 13 cases found for new superbug called Candida Auris in the United States. Four of these patients with the new superbug have died.

Dr. Thomas Frieden, the CDC director, said that they need to act now to better understand, contain and stop the spread of this drug-resistant fungus. He further said that this is an emerging threat and they need to protect vulnerable patients and others.

According to CDC, the Candida Auris is a new fungus that caused severe illness in hospitalized patients in some countries including the U.S. since 2009. A few strains of Candida Auris are resistant to the three major types of antifungal drugs. Currently, the scientists are researching and continue looking for this new superbug.

Candida Auris is first identified in Japan in 2009. The first seven cases in the US occurred in 2013 (one case), 2015 (one case) and 2016 ( five cases) in New York, Maryland, Illinois and New Jersey. The seven patients were hospitalized for cancer, respiratory failure, and other serious condition. On the other hand, it is not clarified if Candida Auris contributed to deaths of four of the patients, according to CDC.

Fox News reports that the other six cases were identified after August. The five of the firsts even cases had not been abated as Candida Auris at the time the patients were hospitalized. These are also found to be resistant to the common antifungal drug called fluconazole. One was resistant to amphotericin B and another to echinocandins, which are antifungals known as can fight against Candida Auris.

Dr. Tom Chiller, who leads the CDC's Mycotic Disease Branch said that it seems that Candida Auris arrived in the United States only in the past few years. He said that they are working hard with partners to better understand this fungus and how it spreads.