AND mushroom has set off global alarms due to its rapid spread in healthcare centers and which is the cause of serious bloodstream infections, which can reach cause death patient: it is White ears.
In February 2021, the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) issued a epidemiological alert caused by an increase in outbreaks White ears related to healthcare in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
dr. Patricia Escandón, coordinator of the microbiology group of the Public Health Research Administration and director of the mycology laboratory of the National Institute of Health (INS) of Colombia, explained that this fungus “is the cause of serious bloodstream infections, which can reach cause the death of the patient especially those who are critically endangered, so much so that one out of three patients with an invasive infection C. ear You can die.”
What is Candida Auris?
PAHO defines it as an emerging unicellular fungus with special characteristics, among which is its spread in health services and in patients with weakened immune system.
The fungus has the ability to survive on surfaces for a long time.
According to experts, one of its main characteristics is a high degree of resistance to antifungal drugs that are commonly used to treat other species of the genus Candida (polyenes, azoles and echinocandins).
Why are you worried about the spread White ears?
Bad The American Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that this mushroom is dangerous for the following reasons:
- Cause serious infections. It can cause blood infections and other invasive infections, especially in patients who are hospitalized and nursing homes and that they have many health problems.
- More than 1 out of 3 patients die within one month of being diagnosed with an invasive infection by C. ear.
- Es drug resistantYes Antifungal drugs commonly used to treat other fungal infections Candida often has no effect on auris.
- It’s more and more common. although auris discovered only in 2009, the number of cases has risen sharply. Since then, it has been reported in dozens of countries.
- It is difficult to identify it. Candida auris can be misidentified as another type of fungus unless specialized laboratory methods are used.
- it can spread and cause disease outbreaks in health care facilities. Fungi can be transmitted in healthcare facilities and cause outbreaks. It can colonize in patients for many months, persist in the environment and is resistant to some disinfectants commonly used in healthcare facilities.
Patients with a higher risk of infection
Patients with various types of invasive lines or tubes, including central venous catheters, urinary catheters, and tracheostomy are more susceptible to Candida auris infection, since these devices can act as gateways for this organism to normally sterile sites in the body, the CDC explains.
Also, patients undergoing surgery are exposed to a high risk of infection.