Outbreak of drug resistant fungus reported in 2 US cities

Cases of a dangerous and deadly Candida auris have been reported in America amid the corona virus pandemic. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one in three patients with Candida auris infection die. The CDC has listed the fungus as a serious global health threat. US health officials said two hospitals in the Dallas area and a nursing home in Washington DC have reported cases of the incurable fungus.

Patients getting infected from each other

In this, patients are getting infected from each other i.e it is a communicable disease. 101 cases of candida auris have been reported in Washington DC. Of these, three were cases that were resistant to all three types of antifungal drugs. Meanwhile, a cluster of 22 cases of Candida auris were reported in two Dallas area hospitals. Out of this, two cases were found to be multidrug resistant. The CDC says that this infection is spreading from patients to patients. Medicines are also ineffective on it, due to which it has a  higher mortality rate. Worryingly, even after the death of the patient, this fungus remains alive on everything around them.

What is candida auris infection

A fungus named Candida auris spreads through the bloodstream when it enters the body. It is difficult for the affected patient to survive. Antifungal medicines are ineffective on this fungus. The dangerous thing is that it remains alive even after the death of the patient.

Candida auris is a dangerous form of yeast. It is considered extremely dangerous for patients with serious medical conditions. It can cause infection in the bloodstream and even death. According to the CDC, fever and chills are common symptoms of Candida auris infection. Worryingly, the patient does not improve even after antibiotic treatment for the infection.

The biggest problem with identifying Candida auris patients is that it becomes more difficult to know whether someone has a Candida auris infection or not. It is a fungus that is usually present in the hospital environment and preys on patients with weakened immunity. Scientists are trying to find out why Candida auris infections are resistant to antifungal drugs and why the fungus has begun to spread in recent years.

It is often multi-drug-resistant. This means that it is resistant to many antifungal drugs used to treat the infection.
The CDC says that this infection is spreading from patients to patients.