In newly published findings from a survey of U.S. infectious disease physicians, only 37% said their facilities conduct screening for Candida auris, a fungus deemed an urgent public health threat due to its resistance to multiple antifungal treatments.
Researchers sent a survey to physicians who are part of the Infectious Diseases Society of America Emerging Infections Network in August 2022, asking about whether C. auris screening is conducted at their facility, the number of cases identified and other related questions, according to a CIDRAP report on the survey findings, which were published March 7 in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.
Overall, 37% of the 253 respondents indicated screening was conducted at their facility. This percentage was higher (59%) in regions where the fungus is more frequently identified, which researchers labeled as tier 3 or 4. Among those who indicated their facilities did screen for the pathogen, 77% reported screening upon admission and 51% reported screening patients once they are already in the facility.
"Altogether, these findings suggest opportunities to increase adoption of C. auris screening across U.S. facilities, which might aid detection and prevent spread within and among facilities," researchers said.
Health agencies consider C. auris among the pathogens that pose the greatest threat to public health because of its ability to spread quickly in healthcare settings and cause severe infections among immunocompromised people. The U.S. saw its first clinical case in 2016. Between 2020 and 2021, cases grew 95%. Read more about C. auris here.