New Delhi: US health officials on Thursday report outbreaks from fungi “cannot be trained” – Candida Auris – in the Jompo Washington DC home and in two hospitals in Dallas.
Disease Control and Prevention Center (CDC) concludes that new cases have spread from people to patients.
What is the superbug mushroom, Candida Auris? Mushrooms are a deadly form of yeast, which causes severe disease in hospitals and nursing home patients who have been diagnosed with severe medical problems.
“This yeast often does not respond to antifungal drugs commonly used, making infections difficult to treat,” CDC said.
It is believed to be the most deadly when entering the bloodstream, and spread throughout the body, causing a “serious invasive infection”.
How is the infection diagnosed? According to the CDC, infection is generally diagnosed through blood culture or other body fluids.
However, it is difficult to identify yeast from culture, because it can be equated with other types of yeast.
“Special laboratory tests are needed to identify Candida Auris,” CDC said.
What type of infection can be caused by fungi? Yeast can cause ear infections, wounds, and blood flow.
It is not clear whether it affects the lungs or bladder.
Who is at risk of contracting Superbug? The CDC said that the patient “who recently spent time in a nursing home and has lines and tubes that enter their bodies (such as breathing tubes, central venous tubes and catheters), it seems at the highest risk” contract infection.
Limited data shows that infection risk factors include diabetes, recent surgery, and the use of antibiotics and broad spectrum antifungals.
Until now, Superbug has been diagnosed in patients of all ages, including elderly and premature infants.
Can infection be treated? While most cases can be treated with antifungal drug classes known as echinocandins, some resistant to the three main classes of antifungal drugs.
This makes it more difficult to treat, and some antifungal classes at high doses may be needed for care during the scenario.
This invasive infection can cause death.
“Based on information from a number of patients, 30-60% of people with Candida Auris infection have died,” CDC said.
What is the current situation in the United States? About 101 cases of Candida Auris were identified in nursing homes in Washington DC.
This includes three patients who are resistant to the three classes of antifungal drugs.
In addition, 22 individuals have been infected in the Dallas Regional Hospital, with two who have the level of resistance mentioned above.
Of the five patients who are fully resistant to treatment, three have died – both in Texas and one based in Washington.
“It’s really the first time we started to see the grouping of resistance” where the patient seems to get infection with each other, said Meghan Lyman CDC.
(With input from agency)