‘Superbug’ Infection Spreading In NJ, Around U.S.: See Latest Data

NEW JERSEY - A drug-resistant, potentially deadly fungus continues to grow at a troubling rate in the U.S., including in New Jersey, per the latest federal and state figures.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, C. auris is an "emerging fungus that presents a serious global health threat” that kills about one-third of people who contract it. The fungus is mostly found in health care facilities, particularly in long-term acute care hospitals and nursing homes that use ventilators.

As of Jan. 1, 2024, there were 1,668 total recorded cases of the “superbug” in New Jersey since 2015, with 384 cases reported in 2023 — the highest number recorded of any rent year, according to New Jersey Department of Health data.

Most of the cases have been recorded in Bergen, Passaic, Essex, Union and Middlesex counties, the agency said.

“Patients can carry C. auris on their body, even if it is not making them sick. This is called colonization,” according to the New Jersey Department of Health’s website. “When people in hospitals and nursing homes are colonized, C. auris can spread from their bodies and can get on other people or nearby objects, allowing the fungus to spread to people around them.”

In recent weeks, the fungus has sparked outbreaks in Washington, Minnesota, Iowa and Wisconsin. In fact, U.S. cases of C. auris are higher than they’ve ever been on record, according to Medpage Today.

The New Jersey Department of Health did not immediately return a request for comment to Patch regarding the superbug's current spread.

When the fungus enters the bloodstream of an individual and spreads throughout the body, serious invasive infections may occur. The fungus also doesn’t usually respond to commonly used antifungal drugs, making infections difficult to treat.

C. auris can also stay on surfaces in healthcare facilities (such as bed rails, bed sheets, door handles, oxygen masks and more) for long periods of time and can survive on plastic for multiple weeks, according to Medpage Today.

The CDC encourages health care workers to be proactive and vigilant to contain the spread of the deadly fungus, including maintaining adherence to hand hygiene, cleaning and disinfecting patient care environments, screening contacts of new case patients and laboratory testing of clinical specimens to detect new cases.

If C. auris is suspected or identified, contact your local health department and the NJDOH Communicable Disease Service at 609-826-5964.