Florida's Jackson Health System reports rising Candida auris cases

The Jackson Health System in Florida has reported a notable rise in infections from the fungus Candida auris over five years. From 2019 to 2023, cases increased every year, starting with just five cases in 2019 and reaching 115 cases in 2023. The biggest jump occurred between 2019 and 2020, when cases surged by 590% to 29. After that, the health system recorded 71 cases in 2021, 107 in 2022, and 115 in 2023. This data comes from a study published in the American Journal of Infection Control. Blood cultures were the main source of the infections, but there was a significant rise in cases from soft tissue and bone infections in 2022 and 2023. The study found that all samples sequenced belonged to a specific clade that is resistant to fluconazole but can be treated with other antifungal drugs. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported 4,514 cases of Candida auris in the US in 2023. The number of cases has been increasing since the first US case was detected in 2016. Florida, California, and Nevada had the highest numbers of infections. The CDC highlights that case counts can vary between states and local health departments. Differences may arise from the ways cases are reported or counted. As the spread of Candida auris continues, health officials remain vigilant in tracking and controlling outbreaks.