New York had record-high cases ‘diabolical’ fungal infection last year

Metro

To Jacob Jenius

April 15, 2023 | 5:02 PM

It may not be “The Last of Us,” but these new stats are pretty terrifying.

New York has come close to having the highest number of cases in the nation of a “diabolical” drug-resistant, deadly fungus that has already infected people in at least 28 states.

Last year, 379 infections with a dangerous drug-resistant bacterium named Candida auris were confirmed. state health departmentoverthrowing the statewide record of 291 infections in 2021.

Last year, Nevada, California, and Florida were the states with the most fungal infections, with 384, 359, and 349 respectively.

There have already been at least 72 new cases across the state this year, bringing the state’s total cases to 1,454 with the first reported cases in the state, which began in 2013.

Dr. Rodney Rohde, a microbiologist and professor of clinical laboratory sciences at Texas State University, warns:

“This is a global problem.”

Fungal species were first identified in Japan in 2009. Since then, it has proven to be most lethal in closed settings such as hospitals and nursing homes.

Since then, the number of confirmed Candida auris infections has skyrocketed, partly due to its ability to survive for weeks on surfaces and resistance to some antifungal drugs.

“They just stick around,” Rohde said.

“They are diabolical in the way they cling to the surface and are always a little bit ahead of us.”

Rohde said the fungus secretes a sticky substance called a biofilm that prevents antifungal drugs from working.

If the surface is human tissue, a “sticky” coating can prevent the drug from working properly.

“Think of this biofilm like a thick, sticky matrix that prevents drugs from reaching the actual surface, body, or interior of the skin,” says Rohde.

“It can kill anything that’s on it, but it’s very thick and gritty and basically repels drugs.”

“It’s resistant to multiple antifungal drugs,” Rohde said.

“Combining it with biofilms.

“Combine your ability to spread easily on surfaces with a knack for living on surfaces.

“It’s like a perfect storm.”

30% to 60% of people infected with Candida auris die, According to the CDCHowever, according to health officials, the populations most at risk are those with compromised immune systems and those with frequent or prolonged hospitalizations.

A warning sign could be a fever or a severe urinary tract infection, Rohde said.

If the fungus enters the blood, it can cause sepsis and organ failure.

“We can get it to very important organs like the kidneys and the heart,” Rohde said.

“It can even invade the brain and cause encephalitis.”

Immunocompromised patients are particularly vulnerable, he added.

“Individuals in healthcare, research, and various infectious disease specialties need to be more intentional when describing some of these types of microbes. , may not be defending themselves.

Data from the CDC differ from New York State in terms of Candida auris infections, with the state listing 379 cases and federal agencies reporting 329 cases.

The disease has spread on social media with HBO’s video game-inspired sci-fi series The Last of US, which depicts an apocalyptic world ravaged by a fungus that kills its hosts and turns them into bloodthirsty monsters. being compared. Experts point out that it is not a characteristic of frank ears.