All articles tagged with #drug resistant
A dangerous, drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris is spreading globally, posing a serious health threat due to its resistance to treatment and difficulty in diagnosis. It has caused outbreaks in hospitals worldwide, with high mortality rates, and may be linked to climate change. However, advances in antifungal drugs and vaccines offer hope for combating this emerging threat.
A drug-resistant and deadly superbug known as Candida auris is spreading in New York State, with the CDC deeming it an "urgent threat" due to its high mortality rate and resistance to antifungal drugs. New York has the third most confirmed cases in the nation, and the rapid rise and geographic spread of cases are concerning. The superbug can be spread in healthcare settings and poses a significant risk to those who are very sick or have invasive medical devices. Symptoms include difficulty swallowing and a burning sensation.
Washington state is facing its first known outbreak of the potentially deadly fungus Candida auris, with four patients testing positive in the last month. The source of the infection is currently unknown, and health officials are working to limit its spread in healthcare facilities. C. auris can lead to serious illnesses, particularly in immunocompromised individuals, and some strains are resistant to common antifungal drugs. The CDC recommends proper hand hygiene and disinfection measures to prevent further spread of the fungus.
Researchers at University College London (UCL) have developed a gene-altering medicine that could potentially cure a drug-resistant form of childhood epilepsy called focal cortical dysplasia. By increasing the brain's levels of potassium, the therapy reduces the rate of seizures by limiting the risk of electrical impulses misfiring. Human clinical trials are expected to begin within the next five years.
A commonly available antibiotic pill, levofloxacin, has been found to reduce the risk of contracting drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) by 56% in children and 45% in adults, according to new research presented at the Union World Conference on Lung Health. Tuberculosis is the second deadliest infectious disease globally, and MDR-TB poses a significant challenge due to limited treatment options. The study, which followed 453 children exposed to MDR-TB, showed promising results, leading researchers to believe that levofloxacin could offer critical protection to children living with infected parents. The research could potentially protect millions of children from this debilitating illness, and a more child-friendly version of the antibiotic has been developed.
A new antibiotic called zoliflodacin has shown promise in treating drug-resistant gonorrhea, according to the results of a late-stage clinical trial. The antibiotic, developed by the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership, cured uncomplicated gonorrhea infections as effectively as the current recommended treatment of ceftriaxone and azithromycin. Gonorrhea has developed resistance to all other antibiotics used to treat it, raising concerns about the emergence of drug-resistant strains. Zoliflodacin, which would be the first new gonorrhea treatment approved in decades, could be on the market by 2025. The World Health Organization has identified gonorrhea as a priority pathogen and warns of the urgent need for new antibiotics.
A new antibiotic called zoliflodacin has shown promise in treating drug-resistant gonorrhea, according to the results of a late-stage clinical trial. Developed by the Global Antibiotic Research & Development Partnership and Innoviva Specialty Therapeutics, zoliflodacin was found to be as effective as the current recommended treatment for uncomplicated gonorrhea infections. Gonorrhea has developed resistance to all antibiotics except for ceftriaxone and azithromycin, leading to concerns about the emergence of highly drug-resistant strains. Zoliflodacin, which could be the first new gonorrhea treatment in decades, may provide a new tool in the fight against drug-resistant infections.
Several cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris have been reported at UK Chandler Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. The cases are isolated to one floor of the hospital, and while the fungus is present on the patients' skin, it is not causing active infections. Candida auris is known for causing outbreaks in healthcare facilities worldwide. UK HealthCare has implemented surveillance and isolation protocols to prevent the spread of the fungus. Although the infection can be dangerous for hospitalized patients, it is unlikely to affect healthy individuals in the general population. Healthcare professionals emphasize the importance of seeking medical care when needed and assure the public that there is no reason to panic.
UK Chandler Hospital has confirmed five cases of patients with the drug-resistant fungal disease Candida auris. The patients are isolated on one floor, and while the fungus is present on their skin, it is not causing active infections. Candida auris is a type of yeast that can spread easily in healthcare facilities and is resistant to antifungal treatments. Screening and specimen testing can determine if a patient is infected or colonized with the fungus.
A man in Pierce County, Washington, is believed to be the first locally infected case of Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus that can cause serious infections. The man, who has several serious medical conditions, tested positive for the fungus while being screened at a hospital. C. auris is particularly dangerous for those with existing medical problems, those in nursing homes or frequent hospital stays, and those with weakened immune systems. Health officials are investigating the case and have issued an alert about the potential spread of the fungus.
Dr. Asharaf “Ed” Khan, a tuberculosis doctor who died in a motorcycle accident last year, has been published as a co-author on research that could greatly improve treatment for some of the most challenging tuberculosis patients around the world. The study examined the use of a new regimen for drug-resistant tuberculosis among patients in the real world. The regimen, called BPAL, consists of three drugs taken orally for a fraction of the usual time. The study found the treatment worked for more than 90 percent of the patients enrolled, with fewer side effects than previous medications and a median treatment length of six months.
The CDC has reported the first case of a drug-resistant ringworm infection caused by Trichophyton indotineae in the US, which was found in two women in New York City. The infection is highly contagious and known for its widespread inflammation of certain parts of the body that leaves them inflamed and covered in plaque. Trichophyton indotineae is a highly transmissible and drug-resistant type of ringworm that emerged in South East Asia likely due to anti-fungal overuse.
Two cases of ringworm in New York City have failed to respond to standard treatment due to a recently emerged fungus in the United States, according to a recent CDC report. The fungus, Trichophyton indotineae, has resulted in a severe epidemic of drug-resistant ringworm in South Asia in the past decade due to the misuse and overuse of topical antifungal treatment and corticosteroids. This is the first time the drug-resistant fungus has been reported in the U.S. The CDC encourages health care providers to minimize the misuse and overuse of prescribed and over-the-counter antifungal drugs and corticosteroids.
An 80-year-old antibiotic called nourseothricin, which was previously discarded due to its toxicity to human kidneys, has been found to be highly effective against multi-drug resistant superbugs. The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections has led researchers to take another look at nourseothricin, which contains several forms of a complex molecule called streptothricin. Recent work has shown that one form, streptothricin-F, is significantly less toxic while remaining highly active against contemporary multidrug-resistant pathogens. The streptothricin scaffold deserves further pre-clinical exploration as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of multidrug-resistant, Gram-negative pathogens.
Two women in New York have been diagnosed with a highly contagious, drug-resistant fungal infection called ringworm, which has never been detected before in the United States. The CDC has revealed that more cases are being looked into. The skin infection has not responded to normal treatment suggested by dermatologists, and people are advised to be cautious of any circumstance that could lead to a skin illness.