A deadly, drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris is spreading globally, particularly in U.S. hospitals, posing a significant health threat due to its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs and ability to spread on surfaces and equipment. Researchers warn that current diagnostics and treatments lag behind the fungus's evolution, emphasizing the urgent need for new antifungal agents, improved detection, and increased awareness, especially in resource-poor countries. Despite challenges, recent studies suggest potential vulnerabilities in the fungus that could lead to new treatment strategies.
A deadly, drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris is spreading globally, particularly in U.S. hospitals, posing a significant health threat due to its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs and difficulty in detection. Researchers emphasize the urgent need for new treatments, improved diagnostics, and better infection control measures to combat this emerging superbug.
A drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris is rapidly spreading across U.S. hospitals and globally, posing a serious health threat due to its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs and ability to survive on surfaces and skin. Experts warn that current diagnostics and treatments are insufficient, emphasizing the need for new antifungal agents, better surveillance, and awareness to combat this emerging superbug.
A drug-resistant fungus called Candida auris has been reported in 27 US states with over 7,000 cases, posing a serious threat in healthcare settings due to its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs and ability to spread easily, highlighting a growing global concern about antifungal resistance and the need for strict infection control measures.
Hospitals are sometimes discouraging infection testing to avoid regulatory fines for hospital-acquired infections, leading to potential underreporting and compromised patient care, a problem known for over a decade but unaddressed by policymakers.
Roche is advancing its experimental antibiotic zosurabalpin into Phase 3 clinical trials to combat drug-resistant acinetobacter baumannii, a bacteria causing serious hospital infections, using a novel mode of action to which bacteria have not yet developed resistance.
Mexican authorities are investigating the deaths of 13 children, aged 14 or younger, potentially linked to contaminated intravenous nutrition bags in four hospitals in central Mexico. The suspected cause is an infection by the multidrug-resistant bacteria Klebsiella oxytoca. A total of 20 cases have been identified, with 15 confirmed. An epidemiological alert has been issued, and the use of IV solutions from Productos Hospitalarios has been suspended. Seven other children remain hospitalized but are stable.
Research reveals that most hospital infections are caused by harmless bacteria already present on patients' bodies before entering the hospital, particularly in surgical site infections. Despite extensive preventive measures, surgical site infections persist, with antibiotic resistance contributing to the problem. By studying the microbiome of patients undergoing spinal surgery, researchers found that 86% of post-surgery infections were genetically matched to bacteria carried by the patients before surgery, with nearly 60% being resistant to preventive antibiotics. This suggests the need for personalized infection prevention strategies based on patients' microbiome to improve outcomes.
Cases of the "superbug" fungus C. auris reached a new high in January in Nevada, with 202 reported cases, 69 of which involved infections. Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center had the highest number of cases in Southern Nevada, with 713 reported since 2021. The fungus, considered a "superbug" by the CDC, is resistant to most antibiotics and poses urgent threats. The state stopped releasing information about deaths tied to C. auris, and an infectious diseases expert suggested that a significant percentage of deaths involving deep candida infections may be caused by the fungal infection.
Hospitals in Ukraine are facing a concerning rise in drug-resistant infections due to the ongoing war with Russia, according to a report. The study conducted by the Center for Public Health of Ukraine found that 14% of surveyed patients had acquired infections while in hospital, with 60% of these infections being resistant to carbapenem, a class of highly effective antibiotics. These rates are significantly higher than those reported in a 2016/17 European Union-wide survey. The report calls for urgent action to address antimicrobial resistance in Ukraine, including capacity building and international support. The war has led to a breakdown in hygiene levels and inconsistent availability of crucial antibiotic testing, contributing to the spread of multidrug-resistant organisms. Antimicrobial resistance is a global public health threat, causing more deaths than HIV or malaria.
A new study suggests that deadly Clostridioides difficile infections in hospitals may originate from within the infected patients themselves, rather than from transmission between patients. The study found little evidence of transmission between patients, indicating that those already colonized with C. diff were at a greater risk of developing an infection. While hospital infection prevention measures are still necessary, the study highlights the need to identify and prevent infection in colonized patients. Researchers are exploring the use of AI models to predict patients at risk of C. diff infection for more focused intervention.
A study published in Nature Medicine suggests that the high burden of Clostridioides difficile (C. diff) infections in hospitals may be more related to characteristics of the patients themselves rather than hospital transmission. The study found little evidence of transmission between patients, indicating that those already colonized with C. diff were at a greater risk of developing an infection. The researchers emphasize the need for improved identification of colonized patients and targeted interventions to prevent infections. The study also highlights the importance of optimizing antibiotic use and identifying other triggers that lead to serious infections.
