As Candida auris spreads, scientist highlights growing threat of antifungal resistance
As cases of the potentially deadly drug-resistant fungal infection Candida auris have spread to 27 states, including Texas, which has the second-highest number, a scientist at UT Health San Antonio, the academic health center of The University of Texas at San Antonio, warns that strains resistant to frontline antifungal medications are becoming an increasingly urgent global problem.
The fungal infection Candida auris has been spreading to 27 states in the United States, with Texas currently leading the nation in cases. Nathan Wiederhold, a scientist at UT Health San Antonio, warns that strains of Candida auris that are resistant to first-line antifungal medications pose an increasingly urgent global threat.
Fungal infections are often overlooked due to their rarity, but they can be more difficult to diagnose and treat. Scientists are now observing a growing global concern of antifungal resistance, similar to antibiotic resistance. Environmental exposure to antifungal drugs and substances can select for resistant organisms, which can then enter human populations and lead to difficult-to-treat infections.
Candida auris is of particular concern due to its resistance to azoles, a major class of antifungal drugs, and amphotericin B, often considered a last-resort treatment. The fungus can cause life-threatening illnesses and is easily spread in healthcare settings. Other emerging threats include Aspergillus fumigatus, a mold that can develop resistance through environmental exposure, and dermatophytes, which have historically been localized but have recently shown outbreaks with infections that are resistant to standard therapies.
South Texas faces unique concerns such as coccidioidomycosis, commonly known as Valley fever, which is expanding its range.
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