By Mackenna Moralez, Associate Editor

Cases of Candida auris (C. Auris) infections are growing throughout the United States with Nevada and California leading in cases with 384 and 359, respectively.  

In March, the CDC put out a notice alerting the public that the fungus, which is considered an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat, is spreading at an alarming rate in healthcare facilities. It is predicted that infections have grown due to poor general infection prevention and control practices within healthcare facilities. Case counts may have also risen because of enhanced efforts to detect cases, including increased colonization screening. 

Officials believe that C. auris spread may have worsened due to the strain that healthcare facilities have felt over the last three years because of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

The following disinfectants have been registered to fight infections of C. auris by the EPA: 

• Avert Sporicidal Disinfectant Cleaner  
• Blondie 
• Dagwood  
• Micro-Kill Bleach Germicidal Bleach Wipes  
• Oxivir 1 
• Oxivir 1 Wipes  
• Oxivir Wipes  
• Oxycide Daily Disinfectant Cleaner  
• Virasept  
• Wonder Woman Formula B Germicidal Wipes  
• Wonder Woman Formula B Spray  

C. auris is not a threat to healthy people. The CDC reports that the fungus can impact people who are very sick, have invasive medical devices or have long or frequent stays in healthcare facilities.  

The states that have positive C. auris cases include:  

• Nevada — 384 
• California — 359 
• Florida — 349 
• New York — 326 
• Illinois — 276 
• Texas — 160 
• New Jersey — 94 
• Indiana — 87 
• Ohio — 79 
• Maryland — 46 
• Virginia — 40 
• Michigan — 33 
• Pennsylvania — 33 
• Kentucky — 22 
• D.C. — 19 
• Arizona — 17 
• Georgia — 12 
• Louisiana — 10 
• Tennessee — 8 
• Alabama — 6 
• Delaware — 5 
• Mississippi — 5 
• Massachusetts — 2 
• Colorado — 1 
• Hawaii — 1 
• Minnesota — 1 
• New Mexico — 1 
• Wisconsin — 1