Multi-drug resistant fungi Candida Auris found in UK hospitals - alarms health officials

Multi-drug resistant fungi Candida Auris found in UK hospitals - alarms health officials


https://www.news-medical.net/news/20170815/Multi-drug-resistant-fungi-found-in-UK-hospitals-alarms-health-officials.aspx


Candida auris

Candid species of fungi are common and usually live on the skin and inside the human body normally. Candida albicans, is one of the well known yeasts of fungi that affects humans leading to thrush. Thrush can occur in the mucosal surfaces notably within the mouth or oral thrush etc.

Candida auris was first detected in 2009 in the ear of a patient from Japan. Since then this species of Candida has affected and caused outbreaks in several hospitals worldwide - notably in United States, India, Pakistan, Venezuela, Colombia, Israel, Oman, South Africa and Spain and the UK.

This fungi usually spreads via contact from person to person via clothing or equipment. It may take only a few hours for an infection to spread within a hospital.

Candida auris in general may not cause symptoms but may cause serious blood infections in some individuals. For diagnosis the fungi can be detected in the body fluids from the swabs used to take samples. Spread can be stopped by maintaining good hygiene. Protective clothing and gloves help stop spread.

As of now this fungi is resistant to most antifungal agents such as azoles, echinocandins, and polyenes and thus infection is difficult to treat. A biosafety unit at Porton Down, the UK’s chemical weapons lab, is testing for fungicides that can be used to prevent spread of the infection within the hospitals.


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