We remember how scared we all were during the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, we thought that our only enemy was the virus. But unbeknownst to us, another silent enemy has been rearing its head inside hospitals, especially in intensive care units. This enemy is not a virus, it is a fungus. But it is not an ordinary fungus, it is called a 'superfungus'. Today we are talking about this dangerous, but we have not heard much about this health threat.
What exactly is this 'superfungus'?
Simply put, this is a very dangerous type of fungus that is resistant to most of the currently available antifungal drugs. Of these, the main fungus that has attracted the world's attention is Candida auris , or `C. auris` for short.
Imagine, in 2020, a hospital in Florida, USA, set up a separate unit for COVID-19 patients and took care of maximum cleanliness, but the patients' condition deteriorated. Doctors thought that this was only due to COVID-19. But it was only after blood tests that the real story was understood. The bodies of those patients were also infected with a fungus called `Candida auris`. Within two weeks, 35 patients were infected with this fungus, and within a month, 8 of them died.
This is not like the yeast infections we usually get, which are easily treated. For example, infections caused by the fungus `Candida albicans` can be cured with regular medications. However, `C. auris` is a completely different, drug-resistant, dangerous fungus that can cause serious infections .
In fact, this fungus, called `C. auris`, was first discovered in a hospital in Tokyo, Japan, in 2009. This new species of fungus was discovered when a sample was taken from the ear of an elderly woman who was treated for what was thought to be an ear infection. Since then, this fungus has slowly begun to spread around the world.
Why is this fungus so difficult to control?
Controlling this fungus, `C. auris`, has become a major challenge for doctors and hospital staff for several reasons:
- Ability to survive on surfaces: This fungus can survive on any surface, including hospital beds, doorknobs, telephones, and medical equipment, for weeks.
- Resistance to disinfectants: Some of the disinfectants we commonly use cannot completely kill this fungus.
- Difficulty in identification: Traditional laboratory tests sometimes misidentify this fungus, or fail to identify it at all.
- Shape-changing: This fungus can exist in many different shapes, so it's sometimes difficult to figure out exactly what kind of organism it is during testing.
For these reasons, if one patient in a hospital becomes infected, it is very difficult to prevent the spread to other patients. Some specialists say it is like "fighting an unwinnable battle."
Is there a connection between climate change and this fungus?
This is the most surprising fact. Many scientists believe that climate change has directly influenced the emergence and spread of superbugs like `C. auris`.
Think about it, fungi are normally warmer than our body temperature (37 Celsius). So they can't easily live inside our bodies. But as the world gradually warms up, some fungi in the environment are adapting to withstand that higher temperature. Then it won't be that difficult for them to withstand our body temperature.
Scientists believe that C. auris may also be a fungus that has adapted in this way.
Climate change is not only causing new fungi to emerge. Old, endemic fungi are also migrating to new areas.
| Fungal disease | Commonly found areas | Newly discovered areas now |
|---|---|---|
| Valley Fever - Coccidioides fungus | Southwest regions of America | Northern states like Washington |
| Histoplasmosis | Ohio region of America | States like Michigan and Minnesota |
| Blastomycosis | Southeastern regions of America | Remote states like Texas and Vermont |
Who is most at risk?
This fungal infection is unlikely to cause serious harm to a healthy person, but it can be very dangerous for those with weakened immune systems .
- Patients in intensive care units
- Elderly people
- Newborn babies
- People with chronic diseases such as diabetes
- Cancer patients
- People who have received organ transplants
- Patients who have devices such as catheters attached to the body for a long time
These people are at the highest risk.
Isn't there a new medicine for this?
This is the biggest problem. There are very few antifungal drugs available. These super fungi are resistant to what they do have. Developing new drugs is a very complex, expensive, and time-consuming process.
Even pharmaceutical companies don't give these fungi the attention they give to finding cures for diseases like cancer or Alzheimer's. One expert illustrates this point this way:
"It's like maintaining our home's sewage system. Maintaining it is very important. But no one wants to do it. Similarly, no one wants to spend money to prepare before a disaster happens."
Therefore, it will take some time for new drugs to come to market. Until then, the best thing we can do is to be aware of this and do everything we can to prevent the spread of infections. It is especially important to take the utmost care of cleanliness in the hospital environment.
Take-Home Message
- 'Superfungi', particularly Candida auris , are a serious health threat that is resistant to most existing antifungal drugs.
- This fungus can spread very easily in hospitals and healthcare centers.
- The risk is highest for people with weakened immune systems, the elderly, and those with chronic illnesses.
- Climate change is increasing the chances of the emergence and spread of such fungi.
- It is very important to strictly follow cleanliness and hygiene procedures, whether in a hospital or at home.
- If you or someone you know has a persistent infection that won't go away, be sure to talk to your doctor about it.
💬 අදහස් (0)
තවමත් කිසිදු අදහසක් පළ කර නොමැත. ඔබේ අදහස පළමු වරට මෙහි එක් කරන්න.
ඔබේ අදහස එක් කරන්න