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November 1, 2024 — In response to a growing superbug crisis in healthcare settings, a new study advocates for the expanded screening of all hospitalized patients, not only those deemed high-risk. The research, conducted by a team from Mount Sinai Brooklyn Hospital in the United States, sheds light on how broader screening could significantly curb the spread of Candida auris, a highly drug-resistant fungal pathogen that poses a major threat in healthcare facilities worldwide.
Published in the American Journal of Infection Control, the study compares the outcomes of two patient screening approaches: one targeting only high-risk patients and another involving all patients upon hospital admission. Findings revealed that broader screening enabled earlier identification of C. auris cases, empowering infection prevention teams to promptly isolate affected patients and mitigate further transmission.
“Early identification of patients colonized with C. auris allows us to protect other patients and prevent the pathogen from contaminating shared hospital equipment and environments,” stated Scott Lorin, President of Mount Sinai Brooklyn. Lorin underscored the preventive benefits of this protocol: “When considering the numerous people these patients interact with during their hospital stays, this expanded screening has safeguarded many from potential exposure.”
The study’s focus on Candida auris reflects the pathogen’s growing global prevalence since it was first detected in 2009. The fungus is notoriously resilient, spreading swiftly in hospital settings and evading treatment with most antifungal medications. Recognized as a critical health threat, C. auris can lead to severe infections, particularly among patients with compromised immune systems.
The research was sparked by a 2022 case at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, where a patient, initially classified as low-risk, was diagnosed with a C. auris infection after more than two months in the hospital. Following the diagnosis, the hospital conducted a thorough outbreak investigation, testing 118 individuals who had direct exposure to the patient or shared medical equipment. Eight additional cases of C. auris were detected, underscoring the high transmissibility of the pathogen and the limitations of selective screening.
However, broader screening practices demand substantial resources and present logistical challenges, particularly when patients cannot be easily isolated while awaiting test results. Despite these hurdles, Lorin suggests that the public health benefits justify the expanded screening protocol in areas where C. auris is already circulating. “Expanded screening is an effective infection prevention practice that should be considered at all hospitals, especially in high-prevalence areas,” he said.
As C. auris continues to spread worldwide, this study highlights the potential of enhanced screening to prevent superbug outbreaks. Researchers emphasize that the cost and effort required for such screenings may ultimately save lives by stopping outbreaks before they escalate, calling for broader adoption of these practices in healthcare facilities globally.
