The Global Spread of Drug-Resistant Infections

(And it's being kept under wraps)

"It's a creature from the depths. It has surfaced and now it's spreading everywhere. We are facing an organism for which we lack effective drugs. That is what concerns us."

These are the words of Dr. Tom Chiller, who leads the mycotic (fungal) disease branch at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.¹

The pathogen causing deep worry is known as Candida auris. It poses a significant global threat.

This fungus was initially discovered in Japan in 2009 when a woman had an ear infection, hence the name auris, which is Latin for ear. Initially, the infection was easily treatable and didn't attract much attention from doctors.

However, it has since evolved, giving rise to various strains in just a decade. It transitioned from being harmless to resistant to drugs in a remarkably short period of time, a development described as "mind-boggling" by Dr. Snigdha Vallabhaneni, a fungal expert at the CDC.

The exact origins and reasons for the emergence of this fungus remain unknown, but infectious disease specialist Dr. Johanna Rhodes from Imperial College London clearly places the blame on the use of fungicides on crops.

The CDC is now actively monitoring the global spread of this infection.

As of March 31, there were 613 confirmed clinical cases and 30 probable cases in the United States. Additionally, 1,123 patients have been found to carry C. auris through screening but exhibit no symptoms.

The majority of cases are concentrated in New York, Illinois, and New Jersey, with a few cases reported in nine other states. It has also been detected in numerous other countries worldwide.

Overview

The CDC classifies C. auris as a significant global health hazard, causing severe illnesses in hospitalized patients. Over 90% of infections are resistant to at least one drug, and close to a third are resistant to two or more.

Among all types of resistant infections, Dr. Lynn Sosa from the Connecticut Department of Public Health regards C auris as the most formidable threat. "It's highly resistant and challenging to identify," she remarked.

According to the CDC, the mortality rate among confirmed cases is 30%, with half of the deaths occurring within 90 days.

Avoid Hospitals

The primary risk of invasive infection stems from hospitals and long-term care facilities. The fungus can spread from person to person and linger on surfaces.

Individuals previously treated with antifungals, antibiotics, or with catheters or tube lines are particularly vulnerable, as are those with severe medical conditions and weakened immune systems.

A fungal disease specialist, Professor David S Perlin from New Jersey Medical School, noted, "It's challenging to eliminate from hospitals" because while most fungi die once outside the body, C. auris can remain viable for days.

In essence, it is a resilient microbe. A survivor.

In 2015, an outbreak occurred at the Royal Brompton Hospital in London, resulting in 50 cases.

In a room previously allocated for an infected patient, aerosolized hydrogen peroxide had to be continuously sprayed for a week to decontaminate it.

At Mount Sinai Hospital in Brooklyn, after an infected patient passed away, the room was found to be heavily contaminated. Every surface and item in the room tested positive for the fungus. Some floor and ceiling tiles had to be replaced to eradicate the pathogen.

It also wreaked havoc at a hospital in Spain, leading to a 41% mortality rate among infected patients within 30 days.

Hospitals refrain from issuing warnings during outbreaks to avoid causing panic, and the CDC has agreed with states not to make public announcements.

It's reminiscent of the movie Jaws, where authorities in a coastal town chose not to alert tourists about the risk of shark attacks for fear of negative repercussions.

So, what can you do?

Staying Safe

The best approach is to avoid hospitals by maintaining a healthy lifestyle and consuming organically grown food whenever possible.

If hospitalization is necessary:

• Request a private room to reduce the risk of infection
• Ensure that all healthcare providers wash their hands before attending to you
• Strengthen your immune system by following a healthy diet and taking immune-supporting supplements well before hospital admission

If you are in the hospital, have friends or family bring nutritious food to you, as it may not be provided otherwise.