Candida auris is a deadly fungus that can lead to death among infected patients, and it is highly resistant to drug treatments and is acquired mainly in hospitals and nursing homes. In August 2016, the first case of the current ongoing outbreak was found in New York City, leading to 1,025 cases identified in New York State and deaths in 30-60% of the susceptible immunocompromised population. In this case study, Caroline Romano investigates the epidemiological facts about this outbreak and reports that there is little information about the impact of C. auris on healthcare but journalists have identified that policies are poorly enforced, and lack of screening and irresponsible use of antifungals are contributing to the multi-drug resistance characteristic of the infectious agent.
In managing the outbreak by the New York State, Caroline Romano points out that it has been ineffective since guidelines for handling or reporting infectious are not enforced and proper precautionary measures are yet to be mandated. Three years after its emergence, New York State labeled C. auris as a public health threat but did not make the screening, management, and reporting of the infection mandatory. The lack of translational guidance from the state created gaps in communication and implementation in hospitals and public health departments alike.
Read Caroline Romano’s case study here