Candida auris: A Global Threat in Healthcare
Candida auris (C. auris) is a rapidly emerging fungal pathogen that poses an urgent threat to global health. This multidrug-resistant fungus is responsible for life-threatening infections, particularly in healthcare environments where vulnerable patients are at the highest risk.
Critical Challenges of C. auris
Recognized as the first fungal pathogen to be listed by the CDC as an urgent threat, C. auris presents numerous complex challenges for healthcare systems. Here are just a few of the critical issues prevalent today:
High Mortality Rate
A colonized patient has up to a 20% chance of an invasive infection, and an invasive infection carries ~40% mortality rate in 30 days. This makes it one of the deadliest fungal pathogens, especially for vulnerable patients.
Extended Safety Protocols
C. auris is highly contagious and spreads quickly, shedding from a patient’s skin to colonize others and surfaces in under 4 hours. It can persist on the skin for up to eight months, requiring costly, prolonged protective measures – with no standardized elimination protocol.
Extremely Difficult To Treat
87-100% of C. auris strains are resistant to antifungal treatments such as fluconazole, amphotericin B, and echinocandins, and 40% express combined resistance to two or more antifungal classes. Even more concerning, it can become more resistant during treatment, making it harder to control over time. Reports show that cases of resistance have tripled in a two year period.
Awareness and Screening Hasn’t Slowed Cases
Cases are rising rapidly, with U.S. healthcare costs projected to exceed $1 billion annually by 2024 and $5.7 billion by 2028 for Contact Precautions alone, highlighting the critical need for effective solutions.
The Answer
Many are calling it revolutionary.
We call it Avantamine™.
Inspired by nature's pathogen-fighting mechanisms, Avantamine™ excels in two critical aspects:
1
Avantamine™'s enhanced stability in both wet and dry environments makes it more effective against pathogens while minimizing harm to human cells and corrosion to metals and fabric.
2
Avantamine™ is a versatile molecule that can be formulated as an antiseptic or disinfectant, applied as a coating, or integrated into surfaces as a plastics additive.
The Quickest Way to Stop C. auris Deaths
The key to reducing Candida auris-related deaths lies in stopping infections before they become invasive. Treating the cutaneous infection early prevents invasive progression.
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Our approach to this is a topical treatment that addresses cutaneous infections without generating resistance – a breakthrough solution developed by AvantGuard.
This innovative treatment offers a path forward, providing a scalable, effective way to combat C. auris and save lives.
A Global Health Challenge
We're leading the charge against a $100B problem.
AvantGuard is leading the efforts to meet this health challenge head-on with an innovative molecule that eliminates pathogens (bacteria, virus, and fungi) on all surfaces, skin included, without causing resistance generation. This way we can reserve oral antibiotics for when we need them most.
Each year in the US, Hospital Acquired Infections (HAIs) cost society over $41B in direct medical & societal costs.
The World Health Organization estimates that by 2050 more people will die of drug resistant pathogens than cancer.
Each year, over 180M people in the US become ill with food borne illnesses, costing society $18B a year.
Your first line of defense against
pathogens and their biofilms.
At AvantGuard, we're dedicated to advancing antimicrobial technologies to deliver unparalleled protection to all surfaces, including the skin. Our innovations provide continuous, long-lasting surface protection capable of eliminating pathogens, safeguarding lives, and transforming industries.
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