Two cases of highly contagious, drug-resistant ringworm infections were detected in New York City. Such cases are the first reported in the United States. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Thursday.
The infection was first identified in a 47-year-old woman who developed severe ringworm, also known as ringworm, while traveling in Bangladesh.
She had developed rashes over most of her body, and common antifungal creams didn’t help.
“My radar worked immediately,” said Abrom Kaplan, Ph.D., an assistant professor of dermatology at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine who treated the patient and one of the authors of the report.
The woman’s infection turned out to be a relatively new fungus that causes ringworm. indian ringworm fungus. Infections caused by this drug-resistant fungus have spread rapidly in South Asia over the past decade, likely due to overuse of treatments such as topical antifungals and corticosteroids, according to a CDC report.
The woman’s case prompted Caplan to ask colleagues if they had seen a similar infection. He soon discovered a second case, a 28-year-old woman from New York.
The woman developed ringworm over most of her body in the summer of 2021. However, in this case, her patient had not traveled outside the United States.
Neither woman had any underlying medical conditions that might increase the risk of drug-resistant infections.
Mr. Kaplan alerted public health officials to two cases in February. Outside of Asia, cases have also been confirmed in Europe and Canada.
Like drug-resistant bacteria, drug-resistant bacteria are also a major public health concern.case of Candida auris, another type of drug-resistant fungal infection is prevalent in US healthcare facilities. This infection is very difficult to treat and can be fatal.
“We focus so much on antimicrobial resistance as it relates to bacteria, forgetting that those rules also apply to fungi,” said Adam Friedman, M.D., professor of health sciences and director of dermatology at George Washington University School of Medicine. I have,” he said.
Friedman wasn’t involved in the new report, but he’s witnessing an increase in people with fungal infections who either take longer to respond to usual treatments or require additional medications. said.
“If you’re treating something with drugs in hopes that it will work, and you’re not getting better, then you have to go back to square one,” he said.
What is ringworm and how is it treated?
Ringworm, as the name suggests, is not caused by parasites. It’s a fungal infection. It spreads easily through skin-to-skin contact and usually looks like a circular pattern of raised, itchy scales. It can appear on the face, chest, scalp, groin, etc. Ringworm can occur at any age, but it is most common in children.
Cases are usually treated with antifungal creams. However, in particularly difficult cases, it is necessary to take antifungal drugs in tablet form, such as terbinafine or itraconazole.
Two New York patients detailed in the CDC report were successfully treated with oral medications. However, drugs, especially itraconazole, require medical attention. This drug can cause heart failure and should not be taken with certain medications. National Library of Medicine.
Caplan said he suspects there may be other cases of infection in the United States. indian ringworm fungus. For example, a 47-year-old patient’s husband and her son also have ringworm and are being tested to see if the fungus is the same.
But at this point he said: indian ringworm fungus ‘Not a widespread problem’ in the US
Caplan recommended that anyone suspected of having a ringworm infection should contact a dermatologist for an evaluation. They also recommended regular laundering of linens, clothing and towels to minimize the spread of fungi.
