Tag Archives: Fungal Infections

Dr. C's Journal, Medicine, Reviews

Fungal Infections: The Spread Of Candida Auris

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Candida auris is a type of fungus, a yeast in this case, that is increasing in frequency and spreading geographically, apparently due to warmer temperatures. This organism is fairly common in hospitals, where it often is on the skin. It is lethal if it gets into the body, and often difficult to treat. Las Vegas, Nevada, in particular is having almost an epidemic of these infections, with more than 500 infections and 100 deaths since the fall of 2021.

An alarming number of cases are misdiagnosed when patients first come to the emergency room; fungal infection is certainly not the first thing a doctor thinks of when she sees a patient with a febrile illness. On the flipside of that, any delay in diagnosis, particularly with a bloodstream infection, can be lethal. There are a few good laboratory tests for the diagnosis of fungal infection, and many of these take highly trained technicians with a microscope.

Fungi are opportunistic infections, which means a healthy person is unlikely to be seriously affected. With cancer treatments and organ transplants, increasing numbers of people are on immunosuppressive drugs which means they are more susceptible. Hospitals deal with this very sick people, and frequently use central catheters inserted into patients veins, and opportunistic fungi, like candida auris, get a free ride into the body. With fever, most doctors, think first of bacterial infections, and give antibiotics; these antibiotics can actually worsen fungal infection, since they remove bacterial competitors.

Many medical schools do not teach their students about fungal infections, and in 4 years of medical school, doctors in training are lucky to get two or three hours on this subject. Fungal infections are thought to be rare.

In these days of high-tech, corporate medicine, it is good for a patient to be her own advocate. Don’t be afraid to ask the doctor if she has thought of fungal infection as possible cause if you are not improving with your treatment, particularly if you’re in the hospital.

—Dr. C.

Dr. C's Journal, Men's Health, Opinion, Women's Health

DR. C’S JOURNAL: YEASTS – CANDIDA ALBICANS

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Candida albicans is a ubiquitous yeast that has evolved the ability to stick to mucocutaneous linings, e.g. mucous membranes and  skin. When present  in the mouth it is called thrush, and on the skin intertrigo, or diaper rash among other names.

Almost everybody is infested by candida in low amounts, as indicated by the common incidence of a whitish membrane (thrush)  in the mouth of people who regularly use inhaled corticosteroids for asthma. The Cortisone lowers the resistance, enabling the fungus to grow more profusely. The use of broad-spectrum antibiotics also facilitates the growth of Canada by killing off the competition.

Diabetes is a risk factor that commonly increases difficulties that people have in controlling candida growth in their oral and genital areas. Certainly anything that affects the immune system such as very young or very old age, viral infections especially AIDS, organ transplants, and chemotherapy will increase the incidence of Canada.

Due to it’s widespread presence in the body, Candida albicans is the fourth most common cause of bloodstream infections among hospitalized patients, where it grows on indwelling catheters and other in certain devices, which act as avenues for the yeast to invade the bloodstream.

Candida Auris  is a member of the same genus, Candida,that has developed some gain of function mutations to allow it to infect the body much more readily. It is very hard to get rid of, and at least one emergency room has been shut down because of a Candida Auris infestation. Another little trick that  it has evolved is resistance to most antifungal agents; The mortality rate of systemically infected people is very high.

The combination of greater infectivity and resistance to treatment makes it formidable indeed, but still it is mainly a problem for immuno suppressed individuals. C. Auris is not  as widespread as Candida albicans, and the number of cases is currently nowhere near as great. But if you get it, watch out!

As with so many other problems, it is better not see them. In other words, stay healthy with sleep, diet and exercise.

–Dr. C