Michigan hospitals report surge in drug-resistant Candida auris cases

Michigan health authorities have recorded over 500 cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris in hospitals this year, bringing the state’s total since the first detection in 2021 to more than 3,000 cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classifies the organism as an urgent public-health threat because it can survive on surfaces such as bedrails and doorknobs and cause infections ranging from skin irritation to life-threatening bloodstream involvement.

"The danger is once you get infected, trying to treat that, and it sticks around because the [antifungal] drugs we have simply won’t work on some of it," said Dr. Jamie Alan, a pharmacology and toxicology professor at Michigan State University. He added that patients with medical devices like breathing tubes or catheters are at higher risk, as the fungus can enter the bloodstream through such equipment.

Infection-control teams at Michigan hospitals are employing contact-precaution protocols, including gowns and gloves for patients known to carry the fungus. Dr. Leonard Johnson, an infectious-disease specialist at Henry Ford Health, noted that increased testing and broader prevalence have contributed to the rise in identified cases. He cautioned that many carriers may remain undetected despite existing measures.

Johnson emphasized that Candida auris has not been found outside healthcare facilities and that community members do not need to be alarmed. He advised patients to follow discharge instructions and avoid unnecessary hospital stays, which can increase exposure risk.