Drug-Resistant Fungal Superbug Spreading in NICUs: Study

Drug-Resistant Fungal Superbug Spreading in NICUs: Study

A highly drug-resistant fungal pathogen, Candida auris, is spreading in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Bangladesh, posing a serious risk to newborns and hospital infection control systems, according to a new study.

Researchers found that the fungus, which can cause severe and often fatal bloodstream infections, is being transmitted within NICU environments. The study was conducted by icddr,b in collaboration with IEDCR, with technical support from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum.

While Candida auris can exist harmlessly on the skin, it may enter the bloodstream of vulnerable individuals, particularly preterm or critically ill babies, leading to life-threatening illness. In low- and middle-income countries, infections caused by this fungus have been associated with mortality rates of up to 70 percent.

The research examined 374 infants admitted to NICUs in two hospitals in Dhaka between August 2021 and September 2022. It found that 32 infants (9%) were colonised with the fungus, and one developed a bloodstream infection. More than half of the colonised infants are believed to have acquired the fungus after hospital admission, indicating in-hospital transmission.

Laboratory analysis showed that 82 percent of the fungal isolates were resistant to fluconazole, a commonly used antifungal drug. Although only 9 percent were classified as multidrug-resistant, the study warns that C. auris can survive on hospital surfaces for long periods and spread quickly, making it a significant healthcare-associated threat.

Seven of the colonised infants died during the study period. The majority of affected infants had been delivered via caesarean section, suggesting prolonged hospital exposure as a possible contributing factor.

The researchers called for urgent infection prevention measures, including rigorous surface disinfection, strict hand hygiene protocols among healthcare workers, and ongoing surveillance to detect and isolate colonised infants.

They stressed that these steps are essential to prevent C. auris from becoming more widespread in healthcare facilities across Bangladesh.