Fungus Spreading In Michigan That’s Resistant To Drugs

A fungus showed up in Michigan in 2021 that is resistant to multiple drugs. The fungus is becoming a problem for hospitals across the state as cases continue to rise.

What is Candida Auris?

Candida auris (C. auris) is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast that represents a global health threat. C. auris causes severe illness in hospitalized patients and persons needing ventilator support in long term care facilities.

Candida auris looks like other yeast infections. It has a bright red, itchy rash with small, pus-filled bumps at the edges, especially in warm, moist skin folds (underarms, groin, under breasts).

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C. auris can also cause raw, white/red, itchy patches around the anus or nails, sometimes leading to broken skin or even wounds with oozing fluid.

Michigan Hospitals See Increase In Drug-Resistant Fungus

According to MLive, Michigan has identified more than 110 cases of Candida auris in the month of October alone. The fungus was first discovered in a resident in 2021 and continues to spread in Michigan hospitals.

If a patient doesn't it know it yet, if they touch a door knob, or any surface in a health care facility, it can remain there active for extended periods of time. Often a person can catch the organism and not even know because the symptoms will not appear right away. The fungus can spread easily among patients who are already sick.

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What makes the C. auris fungus so hard to treat it is resistant to antifungal medications.   Since 2021, Michigan has identified 2,222 cases in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Ingham, Washtenaw, Kent, Genesee, Saginaw, Midland, Bay, Lenawee, Calhoun, Jackson, Gratiot and Livingston counties.

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