What To Know About The Drug-resistant Fungus Spreading In The US

(KMDL-FM) A fungal "super bug" is now threatening Louisiana and 22 other states as the drug-resistant and deadly strain marches across the country. Texas currently leads the nation in cases, with more than 700 reported, but Louisiana is not far behind, with almost 100 cases confirmed by the Louisiana Department of Health.

Fungal Super Bug Now a Threat to Louisiana

An outbreak of the fungus had been reported earlier this year, but case counts were being managed. Recently, data from the Centers for Disease Control confirmed that not only were case counts growing but the fungus was spreading to even more states.

man sight on white microscope — Photo by Lucas Vasques on Unsplash

What makes Candida auris so difficult to control and manage is that, over time, it has become resistant to many medications that work well against other fungal infections.

A review of previous outbreaks of the fungal infection suggests those aged 45 and older were most likely to be affected by the fungus. The majority of the patients were male, and most of those patients were in acute care settings.

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This is especially concerning because those in good health can generally battle the fungus with their own immune systems. Those whose health might be compromised or living in a weakened state are most likely to have serious issues with the fungal infection.

Fungal Super Bug Can Be Fatal in Many Cases

a man laying in a hospital bed with an iv — Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash

The CDC estimates that between 30% and 60% of those who have been infected with the fungus have died. However, the majority of those patients also had other medical issues that contributed to the disease progression.

This is not to be confused with the "explosive diarrhea bug". Patients get that from a parasite that is connected to fresh produce. The Candida auris fungus is a multidrug-resistant yeast that spreads easily in healthcare settings because it can live and linger on hard surfaces even after cleaning.

The symptoms are usually non-specific but do resemble those of bacterial infections. Common symptoms include fever, chills, and body aches. Again, people in good health generally have no issue with the fungus, but it is always best to get medical attention to confirm the diagnosis.