A deadly fungus is spreading in the United States that cannot be cured

In 2009, it was first discovered in Japana dangerous fungus that affects the bloodstream, central nervous system and internal organs. We are talking about Candida auris, the mortality rate of which is 60%. Subsequently, cases of infection were recorded in other countries - India, South Korea, Great Britain, Pakistan, etc. In 2016, Candida auris infection was first diagnosed in the United States. From that moment began the rapid spread of the fungus in hospitals in America. However, the increase in the incidence occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, 1310 clinical cases of Candida auris infection were recorded, and in 2022 this number increased to 5754 cases. Worst of all, the fungus appears to have mutated, making it not only more contagious, but also more resistant to drugs.

In the United States, the number of infections with a dangerous fungus is increasing

What threatens infection with the fungus Candida auris

C.auris is a yeast species that belongs to the class Saccharomycetes, which also includes baker's yeast. It infects people and spreads throughout the body through the blood, usually affecting the kidneys, liver, and spleen. If it enters the heart or brain, the fungus is fatal.

Earlier we told earlier, many hospitalinfections live in the patients themselves, not in hospitals. As for Candida auris, it is not known for sure whether it lives in hospitals or only makes itself felt when people have serious health problems. However, the vast majority of infections occur in medical or long-term care facilities. As a rule, patients complain of body pain, fatigue and fever.

Candida auris is a yeast fungus

Antibiotics are generally powerless against Candidaauris, and antifungal drugs practically do not give a positive result. The only good news is that the disease is extremely rare in healthy people. But for people with weakened immune systems who are treated in hospitals for other diseases, infection with Candida auris often becomes fatal.

Dangerous fungus mutated?

In a study published recentlyin the Annals of Internal Medicine, the authors conducted a new assessment of cases of C. auris infection reported in the United States from 2019 to 2021. A total of 10,683 people were infected during this time. At the same time, 3,270 cases were clinical, that is, patients developed symptoms of infection. The remaining 7413 people were simply carriers of the fungus and had no symptoms.

According to experts, people who carry the fungus can infect other people without even knowing it. But over time, they themselves may develop symptoms of the disease.

Candida auris affects the nervous system and internal organs

According to the study, the numbercases are increasing from year to year. In 2019, 44% more people were infected than in 2018. In 2020, the number of infections increased by 59% compared to the previous year. In 2021, there was a surge - 95% more people were infected compared to 2020. Scientists suggest that the surge in diseases is a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.

It is possible that the number of people whoare carriers of Candida auris, in fact, much more than scientists suggest. The fact is that at present, even in the United States, there are very few tests that can detect the fungus.

Candida auris can colonize the skin

Another important conclusion made by scientists inIn his study, C. auris has become more resistant to treatment over time. In the period from 2016 to 2019, a fungus resistant to echinocandin preparations was extremely rare. It was the only type of antifungal drug that could treat this fungal disease. But since 2019, doctors have increasingly had to deal with C. auris resistance to echinocandin.

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However, scientists note that the risk of infectionC. auris for healthy individuals who do not attend health care facilities remains low. But this does not mean that there is no risk at all, which, you see, is alarming. Why did the fungus C. auris arise in the first place? It is possible that the mutation of fungi is caused by global warming, as we talked about earlier. But so far this is just a guess.