Have You Been Injured? We're Ready to Fight for You.

CDC Warns of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection in Hospitals

Published on Mar 24, 2023 by Thomas Law Offices.

CDC Warns of Drug-Resistant Fungal Infection in Hospitals

If the height of the pandemic a few years ago used to make you fear heading to the hospital when in need of urgent medical aid, then the latest reports, like this article published by CBS News, regarding a drug-resistant fungal infection caused by Candida auris plaguing hospitals and nursing homes are unlikely to help alleviate your concerns.

What Do You Need To Know About the Fungus Outbreak Happening in U.S. Hospitals?

The fungus wreaking havoc in medical centers across the United States is the Candida auris one, and it has Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officials concerned, per a report they published on March 20.

In that report, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the CDC highlighted how they became aware of the presence of the Candida auris fungus in our country in 2016 when there were only a handful of cases. By 2021, cases had apparently increased by 95% from the 2020 rate to 1,471 in 2021. That same report also shows how infection rates among patients are now twice what they were in 2021. As of press time, all but 18 states had reported cases where patients had been diagnosed with Candida auris.

What Is Candida Auris?

This fungus is a type of yeast. Generally, it wouldn’t adversely impact a person’s health if they came into contact with it; however, individuals with a compromised immune system, such as those hospitalized, are particularly susceptible to it.

Why Is the Rise of This Fungal Infection So Concerning?

If you’re wondering what’s got CDC epidemiologists so concerned about this Candida auris outbreak, it has to do with the fact that this fungus doesn’t seem to respond well to antifungal drugs. It’s what scientists refer to as drug-resistant. Even worse is that individuals fortunate enough to survive exposure to Candida auris often find that the fungus colonizes, or accumulates, in their bodies for years afterward—leaving them constantly at risk for experiencing invasive symptoms they initially had to deal with at the onset.

What Can Hospitals and Nursing Homes Do To Curb the Spread of the Fungus Candida Auris?

CDC officials have issued recommendations to hospitals and nursing homes aimed at reducing the spread of the fungus from one patient or resident to the next, including:

  • Screening nursing home residents and hospital patients that are potentially infected to see if they indeed are
  • Isolating infected individuals from the remaining non-infected population

Of course, a good solution for infection control is always maintaining clean facilities and personal hygiene too—something that may be lacking if there’s understaffing, poorly trained employees, workers that aren’t adequately supervised, appropriate cleaning supplies that aren’t provided and utilized, or other preventable cleanliness or staffing issues.

If you have the misfortune of having become infected with this potentially deadly fungus and your health has deteriorated, or someone close to you died as a result, you may have some legal recourses to pursue. Regardless of whether the infection was contracted at a hospital or in a Chicago nursing home, our attorneys may be able to help.

Free Case Evaluation

At Thomas Law Offices, our personal injury attorneys recognize that our potential clients are likely going through some of the most difficult times of their lives. We don't want you to have to worry about paying out of pocket for legal advice when you're just starting to learn your legal rights and options. That's why we provide free case evaluations. We'll offer our expert advice about your potential case and walk you through how we can help you.

Call us or fill out the form below to tell us about your potential case and a personal injury lawyer will get back to you as quickly as possible.

Meet Our Founder

Tad Thomas - Trial Lawyer

Tad Thomas

Managing Partner

Tad Thomas has dedicated his practice to representing plaintiffs in various types of civil litigation, including personal injury, business litigation, class actions, and multi-district litigation.

After graduating with his law degree in 2000 from Salmon P. Chase College of Law at Northern Kentucky University, Mr. Thomas immediately opened his own private practice and began representing injury victims.

In 2011, Thomas Law Offices was established in Louisville, Kentucky. Over the past decade, Mr. Thomas has expanded his firm and now has offices in three additional locations: Cincinnati, Ohio, Columbia, Missouri, and Chicago, Illinois. He is also a frequent lecturer on topics like trial skills and ethics and technology.

Legal & Firm News

Do You Need a Front License Plate in Illinois?

Before getting a driver’s license in Illinois, every prospective driver needs to study the Illinois rules of the road manual and pass a written and driving test. Once they get their license, they must adhere to additional laws and regulations, beginning with maintaining up-to-date vehicle registration and license plates. Do you need a front license […]

Read More

Can Driverless Cars Be Hacked?

Driverless cars have been promised technology for decades, but until recently only existed in the world of science fiction. With nearly every major car manufacturer working to turn this electric sheep into a reality, it seems increasingly likely that drivers will share the roads with fully autonomous vehicles in the not too distant future. This […]

Read More

How Often Are Patients Sexually Assaulted at Hospitals?

When you go to a hospital to be treated, you never expect to be assaulted, especially by a doctor, healthcare staff member, or another person. These areas should be safe spaces. But when someone is under sedation or recovering from treatment. These incidents can happen. How often are patients sexually assaulted in hospitals? We will […]

Read More
Tad Thomas Best Lawyers of 2024
Tad Thomas Best Law Firms of 2024
Tad Thomas on The National Crime Victim Bar Association
National Civil Justice Institute - Trustee
Tad Thomas on Lawyer Minds
Tad Thomas on American Association for Justice
Southern Trial Lawyers Association
Illinois Trial Lawyers Association
Ohio Association for Justice
Kentucky Justice Association
Fellows of the Litigation Counsel of America
Martindale Hubbell Preeminent
2021 Public Justice Member
AAJ Masters of Trial Law: Champion