Source: DD News
Subject: Science and Technology
Context: An Indian-led study has warned that Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungal pathogen, is becoming more virulent and spreading globally, with high mortality even after treatment.
About The drug-resistant fungal species Candida auris:
What it is?
- Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that causes severe invasive infections, especially in hospitalised and immunocompromised patients.
- First identified in 2009, it is now classified as an emerging global health threat due to high fatality rates and treatment failure.
Vector / Reservoir:
- Primarily healthcare settings such as hospitals and long-term care facilities.
- Persists on human skin, medical devices, and inanimate surfaces for prolonged periods.
Symptoms:
- Symptoms vary by site of infection and often resemble bacterial sepsis, making detection difficult.
- Common signs include fever, chills, low blood pressure, tachycardia, and in severe cases, bloodstream infections (candidemia).
Key features:
- Multidrug resistance: Resistant to multiple antifungal classes, limiting treatment options.
- High virulence: Mortality often exceeds 50%, even with therapy.
- Morphological flexibility: Can switch from yeast form to filamentous growth, aiding invasion.
- Immune evasion: Adapts rapidly to host immune responses and environmental stress.
Transmission:
- Spreads through direct contact with infected or colonised individuals (even asymptomatic).
- Transmitted via contaminated surfaces, medical equipment, and invasive devices like catheters or ventilators.
