Washington Health Officials Investigate First Case of Candida auris (C. auris) in the State
Washington health officials have announced that they are investigating the first case of Candida auris, also known as C. auris, in the state. A Pierce County man was diagnosed with colonization due to the multidrug-resistant fungus on July 13. The man tested positive for C. auris at Kindred Hospital Seattle–First Hill during an admission screening.
Prior to his diagnosis, the man had been a patient at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma for approximately six weeks. He suffers from multiple comorbidities and has not recently traveled out of state. This locally acquired case is believed to be the first of its kind in Washington, according to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department.
Candida auris is a yeast responsible for many infections and is resistant to most antifungal drugs. This fungus has caused deaths worldwide. The Washington State Department of Health issued a health alert regarding this case on Tuesday. Nigel Turner, Division Director for Communicable Disease Control, stated that screening for contagious diseases is a critical step to protect the public and limit the spread of infections.
The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department is collaborating with the State Department of Health, Public Health Seattle-King County, Virginia Mason Franciscan Health, and Kindred Hospitals to conduct investigations. They will provide testing for other potentially exposed patients, while the diagnosed individual will remain isolated and continue to receive care.
C. auris can cause severe illness, particularly in individuals with serious medical conditions who have spent time in hospitals. Even those who are colonized can carry and spread the fungus, regardless of whether they exhibit symptoms of illness.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there have been a total of 5,654 reported infections of C. auris across the country from 2013 to last year, including cases in western states. However, the CDC states that the risk of C. auris infection to otherwise healthy individuals, including healthcare personnel, is extremely low.
This fungus is known to cause serious infections in the blood and wounds, with a mortality rate of more than one in three patients with C. auris infection. As health officials continue to investigate this case, it is crucial for the public to remain vigilant and follow recommended precautions to prevent the spread of this multidrug-resistant fungus.