Latest Threat of Humanity Candida Auris
Candida auris is a fungal infection. Fungus are a group of spore producing organisms who feed on organic matter. Candida auris has been hitting new ground because it is one of the drug resistant variants. It is basically a yeast.
Researchers suggest that it might not be harmful to healthy people but it can cause severe damage to fragile patients and ICU wards of hospitals.
Candida auris was first discovered in the year 2016. A study published by Annals of internal medicine o informed that the number of cases has been increasing every year. The phase of 2020-21 registered the highest number, at a staggering 4041 cases. It tripled from last year.
Cause of spread
It basically affects the bloodstream, ears. If it also affects the heart valve, the repercussions of this are very fatal. Centre for disease control and prevention alarmed the medical institutes and practitioners about its severity and rising number of cases.
Some doctors suggested that, during the covid times, the shortcuts taken might have increased the rate of infection.
The rapid increase of the number of cases has been demanding higher surveillance and commitment to control the spread. It is becoming a bigger challenge as this particular variant of fungal infection is drug resistant.
A drug resistant element is that, which cannot be destroyed or controlled through medicines. The internal mutation and developing immunity of fungus make them drug resistant.
Doctor Meghan Lyman, lead author, talked about increasing surveillance, expanding capacity of labs, faster diagnostic analysis, and adherence to rules and regulations for preventing infection and its control. The detection process makes this fungus more complicated.
It needs special attention and special diagnostic laboratories. The candida auris is often mistaken for other fungus. The need to increase the capacity and capability is very highly needed.
Prevention and Care
Prevention is the key to control the whole scenario. This particular scenario is very much complicated because fungus and human beings are made up of the same components. The usage of anti-fungal resistance products have increased.
The regular usage makes it more drug resistant and creates regular problems in the regular medical world. The spread will directly affect and directly threaten the life of fragile people.
To control the spread right now we have only one approach. It is prevention, mre screening tests and regular disinfection of medical places. The control of unwanted usage and taking precaution can help in stopping the spread of candida auris.
Symptoms
The basic symptoms of Candida auris are fever and chills. Most often it is suggested to take antibiotics by the practitioners. But in this particular case, it is not effective and hence creates a dual burden of overusing antibiotics and the threat of antimicrobial resistance.
The fungus can travel on the skin of human beings. It does not necessarily affect the carrier, it only affects those people who are fragile with their immunity system.
The doctors are regularly updating about the development. They also consist of suggestions to increase the natural immunity of a person through eating a balanced diet and nutrient rich leafy vegetables and food products.
Problems
As it has been stated above, humans and fungi are made up of the same stuff. The antifungal search is getting complicated because of this.
The antifungal will not only affect the fungus, it will affect human skin to deteriorate too. It is one of uncharted territory. We have a faint idea about what will happen next and what steps to take in that situation.
More and more samples had been found to be multi directed resistant. The colonisers are spreading it without knowing it. People have to be careful while they visit hospitals and intensive care units.
They can unknowingly spread it to low immunity threshold persons. Which can cause a serious threat for them.
The fungus has the ability to survive on skin, bells, chairs, any solid surface. Cleaning becomes more important. It can be cleaned through sanitisers, alcohol, bleach etc. The cure and prevention is our last resort as of now.
The cases could be curtailed and stopped in the initial scenario. Problems will get more complicated if it gets elevated on epidemic or pandemic scale. We recently saw the wrath of COVID-19.
The fungus name gives us the nostalgia of ‘ The Last of Us’ and “12 monkeys”. But we have our future in our own hands. Precaution and care are –
- Washing hands regularly
- Cleaning still objects regularly
- Use of Hazmat suit while visiting Nursing facilities
- Proper and regular contamination of Medical facility areas.
Keep a look out for the fungus. Being alert and sound about the fungus can save lives.
