Nationwide, the CDC reports clinical cases rose from 476 in 2019 to 1,471 in 2021, while screening cases tripled from 2020 to 2021.

The CDC says, “Equally concerning was a tripling in 2021 of the number of cases that were resistant to echinocandins, the antifungal medicine most recommended for treatment of C. auris infections. In general, C. auris is not a threat to healthy people.  People who are very sick, have invasive medical devices, or have long or frequent stays in healthcare facilities are at increased risk for acquiring C. auris. CDC has deemed C. auris as an urgent AR threat, because it is often resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, spreads easily in healthcare facilities, and can cause severe infections with high death rates.”

C. auris has spread in the United States since it was first reported in 2016, with a total of 3,270 clinical cases (in which infection is present) and 7,413 screening cases (in which the fungus is detected but not causing the infection). This data from the CDC was reported through December 31, 2021.

“The rapid rise and geographic spread of cases is concerning and emphasizes the need for continued surveillance, expanded lab capacity, quicker diagnostic tests, and adherence to proven infection prevention and control,” said CDC epidemiologist Dr. Meghan Lyman, lead author of the paper.

The CDC says, “C. auris case counts have increased for many reasons, including poor general infection prevention and control (IPC) practices in healthcare facilities. Case counts may also have increased because of enhanced efforts to detect cases, including increased colonization screening, a test to see if someone has the fungus somewhere on their body but does not have an infection or symptoms of infection. The timing of this increase and findings from public health investigations suggest C. auris spread may have worsened due to strain on healthcare and public health systems during the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Review more information on C. auris, the Antimicrobial Resistance Threats Report that identified C. auris as an urgent threat in the United States, or the WHO fungal priority pathogen list that identifies C. auris as a priority globally.

The post CDC: Increasing Threat of Spread of Antimicrobial-resistant Fungus in Healthcare Facilities appeared first on Science News Watch.

2021 covered the pandemic timeframe when many students experienced changes in home life and schooling, including some adapting to the hybrid model of in-person and online learning. The CDC’s new report also confirmed ongoing and extreme distress among LGBQ+ teens, who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or questioning.

The CDC also reported the following data statistics:

• Nearly 1 in 3 (30%) seriously considered attempting suicide—up nearly 60% from a decade ago.
• 1 in 5 (18%) experienced sexual violence in the past year—up 20% since 2017, when CDC started monitoring this measure.
• More than 1 in 10 (14%) had ever been forced to have sex—up 27% since 2019 and the first increase since CDC began monitoring this measure.

“Young people are experiencing a level of distress that calls on us to act with urgency and compassion,” said CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health Director Kathleen Ethier, Ph.D, in their release this month. “With the right programs and services in place, schools have the unique ability to help our youth flourish.”

Dial 988 for the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:
If you or someone you know is experiencing a mental health-related issue or in need of crisis support, call or text 988. You can also chat with someone confidentially and free without any charge at 988lifeline.org.

988 is available 24/7/365.

The post CDC: Record high levels of violence, sadness, and suicide risk for teenage girls appeared first on Science News Watch.