Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection Found in Mississippi Senior Care Facility

An unnamed senior care facility is at the center of an investigation by the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) after 19 cases of C. auris has been identified. According to WLBT3, two residents have died from the infection since Dec. 23, 2022. 

Candida auris, also known as C. auris, is a drug-resistant fungal infection that can cause death in 60 percent of patients. The infection often spreads in a hospital or long-term care facility and presents itself with flu-like symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose.  

The CDC is calling C. auris an emerging global health threat. Meanwhile, MSDH is requesting that senior care facilities have a response plan in the event of a C. auris outbreak. Steps to take include: 

• Work with your laboratory to ensure your facility can identify C. auris and establish a protocol for prompt notification of your facility’s infection control department when C. auris is identified or suspected.  
• Know which patients are higher risk for C. auris infection or asymptomatic colonization 
• Report suspected or confirmed C. auris test results immediately to MSDH Office of Epidemiology 
• Send all suspected or confirmed C. auris isolates to the Mississippi PHL for further confirmation. 
• Initiate proper infection prevention and control for C. auris when a suspected or confirmed case is identified  
• Clearly communicate about patient’s C. auris status to receiving healthcare providers when transferring patient to another facility