Microbes in the News – #3

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Summary:

The CDC has warned healthcare facilities in the United States about an outbreak of a resistant super fungus spreading across the United States, so far twelve states have seen outbreaks, with over 600 people infected.

A resistant strain of Candida auras  has killed half of the people infected within ninety days of contraction of the fungus. The outbreak has been associated with hospital stays and is cause for concern as a global emerging threat as a superbug due to it’s resistant to multiple anti-fungal treatments and all antibiotic treatments. It presents with vague symptoms; including general malaise, fever and chills. People with weakened immune systems are the most vulnerable, however, the outbreak is of great cause for concern if it has not been cured; at which point the potential for infection would pose a threat for infection to healthy people with healthy immune systems.

Candida auris is a yeast discovered in 2009 in Japan, after which time infection spread across Asia and the Middleast and entered the U.S. in 2013.

Connections:

In class we have studied fungi and leaned that infections are difficult to treat because they are Eukaryotes and treatment could pose damage to our own cells.

Critical Analysis:

I think the news clip was a great way to get quick information, however, I do not think that it would be the best way to learn sufficient information regarding the topic and the reason why it would be of concern. Also, I think that including a medical perspective was a great idea because she provided an informed discussion.

Question:

The medical doctor mentioned that Candida auris is a normal part of the gut micro biome, however, when I checked other sites, I could not find supporting documentation. Is Candida auris a normal inhabitant of the human gut?

Article and Link:

CBS News (  2019, April 19). CDC warns about mysterious “superbug” fungus.  Retrived from https://www.youtube.com.

Candida auris. (n.d.). In Wikipedia. Retrieved 2019, April 23, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Candida_auris

A2.2: Microbes in the News

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Article and Link:

A Mysterious Infection Spanning the Globe in a Climate of Secrecy

The rise of Candida auris embodies a serious and growing public health threat: drug-resistant germs.

By Matt Richtel and Andrew Jacobs in the New York Times on April 6, 2019

Medical illustration of fluconazole-resistant Candida

Image From: https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/biggest_threats.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/04/06/health/drug-resistant-candida-auris.html

Summary:

The authors write a lengthy article identifying the spread of drug-resistant Candida auris  infections around the globe. There are links, graphics, and descriptions of why antibiotic resistance is a concern, and what roles pesticides, fungicides, and agriculture play in the spread of drug-resistant microbes. The article does include lengthy discussion on the lack of publicity regarding drug resistant infections, especially in hospital settings, with C. auris infections as the focal example.

Connections:

In lecture, we have addressed each of the antibiotic resistance concerns identified in this article (see summary), although lecture contained more emphasis on drug-resistant bacteria than on drug-resistant fungi.

Critical Analysis:

This article really struck home for me, as my son is serving in Kuwait, where there have been numerous fatalities linked to this infection. While less scientific in nature, the almost sensationalist tone of the article was effective in this context. Once concern or interest is evoked in the reader, the numerous links and embedded videos provide a great deal of information. Despite the likely biased perspective, I could not find any inaccurate information in the written article. It was not written with much scientific lingo, and was geared toward the average, non-science-minded individual. I’m undecided if the article crosses a line into editorial territory, as there were certainly links to creditable sources. As a whole, it may run the risk of being dismissed as an opinion piece.

Question:

We’ve discussed mechanisms for the development of drug-resistance in bacteria. Are the mechanisms used by fungi very different? If so, how?

Reference:

Khan, Z., et. al. (2018, June 14). Invasive Candida auris infections in Kuwait hospitals: epidemiology, antifungal treatment and outcome.  Infection,  2018, Oct: 46 (5).