A fungal superbug is spreading through hospitals and nursing homes at an 'alarming rate,' with the CDC recently calling it an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat.

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A fungal superbug called Candida auris is spreading through hospitals and nursing homes at an “alarming rate,” with the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently calling it an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat.

Last week, the CDC warned about the increasing threat of Candida auris, also called C. auris, as it not only is highly resistant to multiple antifungal drugs but also can withstand common hospital disinfectants.

“CDC has deemed C. auris as an urgent AR [antimicrobial resistance] threat, because it is often resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, spreads easily in healthcare facilities, and can cause severe infections with high death rates,” the statement read.

This worry extends beyond the U.S.

Since the pathogen was first discovered in Japan in 2009, it has spread worldwide, triggering prolonged and challenging outbreaks in hospitals and long-term care homes, including in Canada.

In January, Public Health Ontario officially labelled the fungal pathogen a “disease of public health significance.” This means it’s now considered a public health risk and needs to be closely monitored, with measures in place to prevent and control its spread.