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An emerging superbug is once again making headlines, but this time, it is a fungus raising the alarm.
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently published in the "Annals of Internal Medicine," cases of Candida auris are on the rise, a potentially deadly, treatment-resistant fungus.
While the latest report from the CDC may sound like a parallel plot to the popular HBO series, "The Last of Us," the current situation will not result in a global apocalypse from an emerging fungus.
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The newly published report noted a 59% increase of Candida auris infections from 2019 to 2020 and then by an additional 95% in 2021. The CDC also found that the number of people colonized by the fungus increased by 209% in 2021.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey struggle to survive a zombie-like plague in "The Last of Us" on HBO. While it might sound like a similar plot, the superbug isn't a similar threat. (Liane Hentscher/HBO)
The Candida genus comprises approximately 200 species, of which only 30 have been identified as pathogenic to humans. Most Candida species naturally colonize the human body and are part of the normal human microbiome. When a person’s immune system is compromised or diminished, the fungus can invade the normal protective layers and cause an infection. Unfortunately, this particular fungus is resistant to many existing anti-fungal medications.
Preventing Candida infections in hospitalized patients has long been an arduous task for healthcare professionals.
There are two ways Candida auris can affect the body. It can either live in a specific region, such as the skin or other surface and increase as the person’s immune system diminishes. Or it can enter the bloodstream directly through a wound or via invasive medical equipment such as endotracheal tubes and intravenous lines where it can cause a severe systemic infection in the blood stream (sepsis).
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The most common symptoms of sepsis include fever and chills that don’t resolve with antibiotics. Because of the inconspicuous nature of the symptoms coupled with routine blood tests not able to identify Candida auris, diagnosis is often difficult and delayed, leading to worse outcomes.
While the latest report from the CDC may sound like a parallel plot to the popular HBO series, "The Last of Us," the current situation will not result in a global apocalypse from an emerging fungus.
