Kaiser Permanente’s Zion Medical Center in Grantville has isolated two cases of drug-resistant Candida auris among patients in its 24-bed intensive care unit, but officials say that, thus far, the fungal infection has shown no signs of spreading further.
Kaiser confirmed in a statement this week that it identified the presence of the fungus on Jan. 18 and has been working since then to control the spread of a pathogen that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and prevention called a growing health threat nationwide.
“Although the incident of infection remains isolated to two cases, Kaiser Permanente continues to work closely with (San Diego County public health), adhering to all patient safety guidelines, which include terminal cleaning of affected areas, multiple screenings of current … patients, contact tracing, testing of former patients and following patient isolation procedures,” Kaiser’s statement said. “The safety of our members, patients, visitors, providers and employees is our top priority, and we will continue to ensure everyone who comes to us for care remains safe.”
These fungal infections are most dangerous to those already struggling with a serious health condition, especially those that suppress the immune system. People with healthy immune systems are generally able to fight off Candida auris colonization without serious consequences, but those without such protections face grim odds. A CDC research letter published in July estimates a 34 percent mortality rate for those who get sick enough to end up in a hospital bed.
The fungus generally spreads through contact with contaminated surfaces, making gloves and other personal protective equipment, as well as hand washing, crucial to controlling transmission.
While some might see the situation at Zion as proof of a growing problem, Dr. Seema Shah, medical director of the county epidemiology and immunization branch, suggested that it’s actually a glimpse into a really good fight going on in local hospitals.
She pointed to a running tally of Candida auris cases maintained by the California Department of Public Health, which lists 124 auris cases reported in San Diego County from September 2022 through October 2023. It’s a stunningly lower number than has been observed in other large Southern California metropolitan areas. Los Angeles County has recorded 3,173 in the same time span with Orange County logging 2,116. Given that Orange and San Diego counties are each home to about 3 million residents, the per-capita rate of Candida auris transmission in Orange appears to have recently been much, much greater.
Nonetheless, the region’s monthly communicable disease reports show that this fungus is becoming more prevalent. A total of 99 cases were reported in 2023, compared to 57 in 2022.
Shah attributed San Diego County’s comparatively good trend to widespread participation in screening protocols and spot checks performed at local hospitals, skilled nursing centers and other locations frequented by medically fragile residents.
“We’ve had these great partnerships between our county infection control program and our health care facilities,” she said. “I don’t think C.auris is going to go way; it’s here to stay, so our job is containment.”
