Deadly Superbug Candida Auris Reaches Massachusetts

BOSTON — A deadly, drug-resistant infection first discovered in the U.S. in 2013 has reached Massachusetts. Candida auris is a fungus that targets people with weak immune systems. About half of those who contract the infection die, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Seven people were diagnosed with C. auris in 2017 in Massachusetts, according to the CDC. No cases were reported last year. There have been 587 cases across the country, including 309 in New York.

Officials did not identify which hospitals the patients were treated at.

"C. auris is here and it doesn’t appear to be going away," Dr. Michael Mansour, of Massachusetts General Hospital, said in a recent interview. "Many other hospitals are dealing with it in high volume, so it’s something we need to learn to prepare for."

The infection was first discovered in Japan in 2009.

"Candida auris is an emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat," the CDC says. "Patients can remain ... with C. auris for a long time and C. auris can persist on surfaces in healthcare environments. This can result in spread of C. auris between patients in healthcare facilities."

The CDC said it's concerned about the infection because it's difficult to identify, resistant to multiple drugs and can easily spread in hospitals.

C. auris is a form of yeast, though its origin is unknown.

"It is a creature from the black lagoon," Dr. Tom Chiller, of the CDC, told The New York Times. "It bubbled up and now it is everywhere."

Ann Scales, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, told Patch local hospitals are prepared.

"When cases of Candida auris are identified, facilities enhance infection control precautions in addition to enhancing environmental cleaning and disinfection," Scales said in an email. "Screening of other patients is done to ensure the organism hasn’t spread to others in the facility."

The infection has been detected in Canada, England, Russia, Australia and Colombia.

Candida auris cases in the U.S. since 2013