In Germany, there are currently just a few sporadic examples. But the fungus infection Candida Auris is slowly infecting an increasing number of humans.
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| Candida Auris fungus image (Getty Image) |
"Candida Auris is a pathogenic yeast that occurs worldwide and can cause invasive candidiasis in the blood, heart, central nervous system, eyes, bones, and internal organs." The World Health Organization (WHO) uses these terms to characterize the yeast that is presently spreading to more and more nations. He is categorized as a "urgent threat" by the specialists. But why precisely is he such a threat?
What makes Candida Auris so dangerous?
First of all, healthy people are often unaffected by the fungus. Experts talk of a "settlement," according to "ZDF Today." This indicates that the fungus can grow elsewhere in the body without necessitating medical attention.
But when it affects persons with compromised immune systems, it becomes a concern. For instance, as a result of specific pre-existing conditions. Because the fungus may cause significant diseases and harm to various organs if it enters the body.
Additionally, if Candida Auris gets into the circulation, it becomes harmful, according to "ZDF heute". There, it may poison the blood. The third most frequent cause of mortality in Germany has a wide range of symptoms that are sometimes challenging to categorize. Alarm bells should, however, be ringing if you get a very strong, subjective impression of disease. Considering that that is a normal aspect of the illness.
Symptoms of sepsis
- Fever
- acute confusion
- shortness of breath
- low or falling blood pressure
- and rapid pulse
Sepsis is a medical emergency that requires rapid attention. Without medical attention, the chance of dying rises by 7% per hour. According to microbiologist Alexander Aldejohann from the University of Würzburg, "Our experience shows that any infection with Candida Auris is difficult to treat and potentially fatal for patients." According to the WHO, there is a 29 to 53% chance of dying following an infection of the internal organs.
Yeast can acquire drug resistance
Therefore, the pathogen should be maintained as far away from hospitals and care institutions as possible, particularly from intensive care units. Since it may enter the bodies of people who are already unwell or have weaker immune systems, including through breathing tubes or catheters. Smear infections are the mode of transmission. Unlike the corona virus, the pathogen does not transmit through the air.
Additionally, the fact that there are so few effective treatments for Candida Auris makes it extremely risky. due to the pathogen's reputed multi-resistance. This implies that the fungus may become resistant to all antifungal medications. Furthermore, there aren't many of them. Treatment is challenging as a result.
Where does Candida Auris come from?
However, where does the pathogen originate? at 2009, a 70-year-old Japanese woman was found to have Candida Auris at a Tokyo hospital. Because the fungus was discovered in the woman's ear, it was given the Latin name "Auris." The earliest instance of the infection was found in a blood sample taken from a young infant in South Korea in 1996, according to analyses of archived samples.
Experts are baffled as to why separate fungal strains developed in South America, South Africa, South Asia, and Japan all at around the same time. Another puzzle is how a fungus from the environment may suddenly infect humans.
Bernhard Hube from the Leibniz Institute for Natural Product Research and Infection Biology in Jena believes it is incredibly rare. "Only 0.01 percent of the five million different kinds of fungi can infect people with diseases." The fact that the fungus is highly contagious between people is "an exception for fungi that could cause life-threatening infections," notes the specialist.
Because the fungus can tolerate temperatures as high as 42 degrees Celsius, Arturo Casadevall of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore believes that climate change is a factor. According to a study lead by a microbiologist and published in the specialized journal "mBio" in 2021, the species' high body temperature of 37 degrees Celsius was only made feasible by an adaptation to global warming.
Numerous C. auris strains have azole antifungal resistance, which is a factor that should be taken into account. At the same time, it is well recognized that widespread antimycotic usage in agriculture encourages azole resistance in other dangerous fungi. As the WHO also states, this raises the possibility that the C. auris fungus detected in people also developed their resistance through interaction with these chemicals. Although both hypotheses may seem reasonable, there is still no evidence to support either.