Emerging Fungal Threat in US Health Care Facilities
As a medical consultation firm, our team at Medical Service Consultation, PA takes the spread of healthcare-associated infections such as Candida auris very seriously. It is concerning to see that the incidence of this fungus is increasing, especially in vulnerable populations such as those in long-term care facilities. It is important for healthcare facilities to be vigilant in their infection prevention and control measures, including hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and appropriate use of personal protective equipment. Additionally, it is crucial that healthcare providers are aware of the signs and symptoms of Candida auris and take appropriate measures to isolate and treat infected patients to prevent further spread.
According to Dr. Scott Roberts, an infectious-disease specialist at the Yale School of Medicine, "Healthy people don’t usually get sick from Candida auris, according to the CDC. Rather, it’s more likely to affect people who have serious medical problems and require long stays in health care facilities, people with weakened immune systems and people with medical devices going into their bodies, such as breathing tubes or catheters. Screening for Candida auris can help protect people at increased risk of serious infection."
Clinical cases of Candida auris, an emerging fungus considered an urgent threat, nearly doubled in 2021, according to new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “The rapid rise and geographic spread of cases is concerning and emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control,” CDC epidemiologist Dr. Meghan Lyman, lead author of the study, said in a news release.
Read the full CNN story here:
Medical Service Consultation, PA is a group of experts on mold and mycotoxins and medical legal experts in environmental contaminants. The founder is Dennis Hooper MD Ph.D., presently a clinical consultant and part owner of Real Time Labs. MSCPA consists of an extensive network of medical legal expert witnesses and laboratory research capabilities.
