CENTERVILLE, Ohio (WDTN) – The Center for Disease Control has issued a warning about a superbug, calling it a “serious global health threat.”
Candida Aurius is a fungus that typically preys on hospital or nursing home patients, and often does not respond to the usual treatments.
There are no cases of Candida Auris, or C. Auris in Ohio yet, but it has hit both Illinois and Indiana.
According to the CDC, it can travel through health care facilities by lingering on surfaces and medical equipment, or it can spread directly from one person to another.
Holly Artkamp is a nurse manager and oversees the infection control program at Bethany Village, an assisted living facility in Centerville.
She said patients in health care facilities are the most vulnerable because they already have weakend immune systems.
She said at Bethany Village, they keep up to date on all bacterial, viral and fungal trends and are ready to respond.
“We have a very robust antibiotic stewardship program in place, and that’s really important because that is where these superbugs are coming from,” said Artkamp. “It is the evolution of the bacteria or the fungus in response to the antibiotics that we’re overusing or overprescribing.”
She said in lamen terms, the fungus is acting as a bacteria and outsmarting what they have available.
Artkamp said the golden rule of nursing will help prevent the possible spread of C. Auris, which is proper handwashing.
“Make sure that your providers are washing their hands before giving you care, but also as a patient or a family member visiting your family, that you wash your hands,” said Artkamp. “But also, do not ask for antibiotics or antimbicrobial agents when your provider is not prescribing them.”
For more information on the fungal infection, click here.
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