Hospitals have new hope in treating deadly drug-resistant fungal infections, Case Western Reserve University study suggests

An investigational remedy against antimicrobial drug-resistant bacteria is offering hospitals, doctors and patients new hope after the deadly fungus Candida auris has killed patients and closed hospital wards, according to a new study by researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine.

The fungus has been found in hospitals and is resistant to entire classes of antimicrobial drugs, which unfortunately limits treatment options for patients who get infected. Candida auris was first reported in 2009, and has been linked to invasive infections in nine countries, including the United States, and has caused at least two hospital outbreaks involving more than 30 patients each, researchers said.

The study, published in Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, provides evidence that a new investigational drug known as SCY-078 may help to cure these infections. Researchers looked at 16 strains of C. auris collected from infected patients in Germany, Japan, Korea, and India, and tested them against 11 drugs belonging to different classes of antifungals.

Most samples proved somewhat resistant to drugs tested, but low concentrations of an investigational drug known as SCY-078 "severely distorted" the fungus and impeded its growth, researchers said.

[Also: Hospitals battle drug-resistant fungus linked to four patient deaths]

"Fungi exposed to the drug could not divide, suggesting it could halt infections or limit their spread," researchers said.

The fungus is found on catheters in intensive care units. It forms drug-resistant communities called biofilms. Researchers exposed fungi in the laboratory to silicone surfaces similar to catheters. They found C. auris formed relatively thin biofilms that weakened when exposed to the investigational drug. Results varied among the fungus' strains, but overall they suggest that the new drug could combat catheter-associated infections specifically, the study said.

Case Western said the research provides a foundation for clinical trials to keep studying the drug, and gives hope to doctors who badly need new ways to treat infections caused by C. auris.

"This emerging fungal species has started to infect patients globally, causing invasive infections that are associated with a high death rate...understanding the virulence of C. auris and showing that the investigational drug is effective may lead to the development of new medications to combat this emerging health threat," said Mahmoud Ghannoum, lead researcher, and professor/director of the Center for Medical Mycology at Case Western Reserve School of Medicine. 

Twitter: @BethJSanborn