Health Care Providers Seem to Avoid Discussing Candida Auris, Drug-Resistant Infections

Matt Richtel, a reporter from The New York Times with 30 years’ experience has encountered his toughest challenge: reporting on drug-resistant microbes (these are bacteria or fungus that cannot be fought with commonly-used medications). These can be found in various medical facilities, including nursing homes. 

Richtel found it is common for public health agencies, hospitals and other health care providers to avoid saying much about resistant infections. While they were reluctant to say much, they still acknowledged there was a problem.

This is surprising because usually the medical community is eager to spread the word about threats to public health. Particularly when you consider how dangerous drug-resistant infections can be.

For example, Richtel discovered there was a woman in Alaska who had a drug-resistant infection that rooted in her mastoid bone behind her ear. The first sign of it was when she woke up one morning with green and yellow gunk in her ear. The doctor tried treating it with antibiotics, but that did not work. She had to get multiple surgeries to eliminate the infection.

A hospital in Alaska declined a request for Richtel to interview a doctor with a lot of experience treating drug-resistant infections. This doctor had treated a woman who was hospitalized for seven months with a staph infection.

Reporting on Candida Auris

The first of a series of articles by Richtel about drug-resistant infections was about Candida auris (C. auris), that is known to be a clear and present danger around the world.

Despite the danger of this infection, state officials from Connecticut would not reveal the name of a hospital where there was a patient with this infection. Officials also refused to connect Richtel with the victim’s family. The same thing happened in Texas, where this patient was transferred before she died.

Also, a spokeswoman for the City of Chicago said she would find a family that had dealt with this infection but did not return Richtel’s calls – C. auris has run rampant in long-term health care facilities.

However, The State of New York and a Brooklyn branch of Mount Sinai Hospital told Richtel they wanted to connect him with families of people who fell ill from C. auris. The families decided not to come forward.

Contact a Reputable Attorney About an Infection

If you or a loved one contracted a drug-resistant infection like C. auris, you may have a legal claim against health care providers, such as hospitals or doctors. If your loved one developed an infection while living at a nursing home or long-term care facility, he or she may also have legal options.

Contact our Wisconsin personal injury lawyers right now to discuss the situation and allow us to determine your options. We can represent you on contingency, meaning your consultation comes free of charge and you will not be billed unless you receive compensation.

Fill out a Free Case Evaluation form or call us at 414-333-3333 .