Candida auris (C. auris)

06.02.2024

Candida auris (C. auris) , Daily Current Affairs , RACE IAS : Best IAS Coaching in Lucknow 

Why in the  news?

A deadly fungal infection called Candida auris has been spreading rapidly in the United States recently.

About Candida auris (C. auris):

• It is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast (fungus) that represents a global health threat.
• It is capable of causing invasive infections in the human body. It can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems.
• Scientists first discovered C. auris in Japan in 2009. Since then, it has spread quickly to other countries.

Transmission:

• It is primarily contracted in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes.
• It can also live on the skin or other body parts without making a person sick. This is called being “colonised.”
• The fungus can either colonise a specific region of the body, such as the skin, rectum, or mouth, without causing symptoms or it can cause severe invasive infections by entering the bloodstream or wounds.
• It can be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or equipment, or from physical contact with a person who is infected or colonised.

Symptoms:

• It can cause infections in different parts of the body, such as the bloodstream, open wounds, and ears.
• The symptoms depend on the location and severity of the C. auris infection.
• Symptoms may be similar to those of an infection caused by bacteria. There is not a common set of symptoms specific to C. auris infections.
• A high fever with chills that do not get better after taking antibiotics may be a sign of a C. auris infection.

Treatment:

• Most C. auris infections are treatable with antifungal drugs.
• However, some C. auris infections have been resistant to all three main classes of antifungal medications, making them more difficult to treat and often requiring the use of combination therapies.                                                         

                                         Source:NDTV World