Drug-resistant fungal 'superbug' spreads in Dhaka ICUs: Research

A dangerous drug-resistant fungus identified as Candida auris has been found spreading throughout intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals across Dhaka, posing a significant threat to critically ill patients beyond newborn care facilities.

The alarming discovery was made through research conducted by icddr,b, revealing that this fungal superbug has established itself more broadly than previously understood.

Published in Microbiology Spectrum, the comprehensive study examined patients in both public and private tertiary hospitals in Dhaka. The research team worked alongside the Institute of Epidemiology Disease Control and Research, with technical assistance from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Between August 2021 and September 2022, the investigation followed 372 ICU patients, tracking the presence and spread of the resistant organism.

The research methodology involved testing patients immediately upon admission and conducting follow-up assessments during their ICU treatment period. Scientists collected skin swabs and blood samples, which underwent laboratory analysis, with suspected cases verified through VITEK-2 testing protocols.

While Candida auris can exist harmlessly on human skin without producing symptoms, it has the potential to invade the bloodstream and trigger severe, potentially fatal infections. The fungus poses particular danger to critically ill individuals and those with compromised immune systems.

What makes this pathogen especially troubling is its resistance to widely available antifungal medications, with nearly all identified strains showing immunity to standard treatments. Global health organizations have classified C. auris as a major healthcare-associated risk.

Study findings revealed that approximately seven percent of examined patients carried C. auris at some stage during their intensive care treatment. Significantly, over one-third of those colonized acquired the fungus after admission, demonstrating that transmission occurs predominantly within hospital environments.

The public facility showed notably higher transmission rates, with roughly thirteen percent of patients becoming colonized during their stay, compared to four percent at the private institution. This suggests variations in infection control protocols between the two settings.