Hello John and Doves,
The CDC "has called Candida auris
an "urgent threat" because it is often multidrug resistant,
easily spreads through health care facilities and can cause
deadly disease. It is also resistant to some common
disinfectants and can be carried on people's skin
without causing symptoms, facilitating its spread
to others." Initially four strains were found on "four
continents between 2009 and 2015. All four
strains have now been identified in the US, probably
introduced through international travel, the CDC
says."
Candida
auris, an emerging fungal threat, spread at an alarming
rate in US health care facilities, CDC says | CNN
We'll see how "serious" this threat
is over the coming weeks and months.
There are four distinct strains -
South Asian, East Asian, South African and South
American. It is "efficiently transmitted
person-to-person.
"The transmission of C. auris is
different from most other Candida species in that most
cases of candidiasis arise from the host's microflora
(their own skin) rather than acquisition from another
person....C. auris has a particular predilection
for skin, particularly the axilla (under the arms) and
groin. It has the potential to colonize hosts within
days to weeks of exposure, and invasive infections may occur
within days to months after colonization. Colonization
with C. auris may persist for many months and possibly
indefinitely. Therefore, it is essential to identify
asymptomatic colonized patients to take additional
precautions when they undergo placement of indwelling
devices or surgical intervention. These patients may
also be a source of transmission to other patients and
environmental contamination."
Candida
Auris - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
This reminds me of when HIV/AIDS
first hit the country - those with damaged immune systems
were being injured/killed by 'opportunistic' infections that
normal immune systems easily fought off. Like
pneumonia, candidiasis. These infections were little
to no problem for the rest of the healthy population.
At this link is a map that shows
the states infected and number of clinical cases, from
January 2022 to December 2022. About half of the states have
identified this fungi. California, Nevada, Texas,
Illinois, New York have the highest number of cases...so
far.
Tracking
Candida auris | Candida auris | Fungal Diseases | CDC
So far we are hearing that this
fungi is "often multi-drug resistant...Some strains are
resistant to all three available classes of
antifungals." Also, "It is difficult to identify with
standard laboratory methods and it can be misidentified in
labs without specific technology. And "It has caused
outbreaks in healthcare settings." It's hospitalized
patients that are getting this. (and I'll add - along with
residents in nursing homes).
Candida
auris | Candida auris | Fungal Diseases | CDC
On a side not, the most vaccinated
(Covid-19) peple are people who work in hospitals and
nursing homes. And lots of people have been
'encouraged' to get vaccinated before surgeries, etc and
before entering a nursing home.
"About 30% to 60% of people with C.
auris infections have died according to "information from a
limited number of patients," the CDC said. Many of
them also had other serious illnesses that increased their
risk of death, the agency said.....a growing number of C.
auris infections are resistant to all the main types of
antifungal medication...According to Cleveland Clinic, these
treatments must be done in a hospital setting and the
medication needs to be injected directly into the
bloodstream."
Look at what's happened with this
fungus over time in the U.S.:
2016 - 53 cases.
2018 - 330 cases
2019 - 476 cases
2021 - 1,471 cases
2022 - 2,377 clinical cases plus
5,754 screening cases
This is a fungal
pathogen associated with nosocomial infections
(health-care or hospital-acquired infections) - This is
being transmitted and spread in
nursing/retirement/assisted living facilities and
hospitals. And it can be resistant to surface
disinfectants and it's found on people's skin.
It can be spread "through contact with contaminated
surfaces and fomites (doorknobs, faucets, cell phones,
etc.) when shed from infected or colonized patients."
Also, this fungus grows
optimally at 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 F), but can
survive at warmer temperatures up to 42 degrees
Celsius (107.6 F).
This fungus makes it's
way into lungs, heart, blood, liver, vagina, groin,
bone, wounds, ear, brain - resulting in myocarditis,
urinary tract infections, skin abscesses, ear
infections, meningitis, bone infections.
IVs, urinary catheters,
intubators - can infect patients. Those with
diabetes, chronic kidney disease, tumors,
chemotherapy, corticosteroid therapy, exposure to
broad-spectrum antibiotics, surgery within 30 days,
admission to ICU - all put a patient at higher risk.
"Studies have found that C.
auris may be found in patients' rooms and outside the
patient's rooms in hallways, chairs, beds, windowsills,
counters, electrocardiogram leads, blood pressure cuffs,
infusion pumps and ventilators. Shared multi-use
patient equipment such as temperature probes and pulse
oximeters may act as reservoirs of C. auris. Laboratory
studies of C. auris persistence show that it may survive
on moist or dry surfaces for seven days. Another
study showed that C. auris might remain viable for up to
4 weeks and culturable for two weeks.
Isolation and contact precautions should prevent
nosocomial tansmission of C. auris."
This very informative article says the "crude
mortality rate associated with C. auris infections
ranges from 30% to 72%...it may spread hematogenously
(through the blood stream) to seed different organs and
cause multi-organ dysfunction. Conversely, a
localized infection may eventually become an
overwhelming bloodstream infection and have further
complications such as sepsis, multi-organ system failure
involving the kidneys, heart, lungs, eyes, brain, liver
spleen and ultimately death." This has a high rate
of transmission. Hand hygiene is important in
helping stop the spread of this. Alcohol-based
hand wipes/solutions are effective.
Candida
Auris - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf
At this time, only the
immunocompromised are at risk as those with a
'normal' immune system are able to fight off the
infection.
Having an open border -
especially with South America - is helping with the
spread. Not with just this fungus but many, many other
diseases/infections.
Also, the Covid-19 "vaccine"
affects the immune system. Those vaccinated
individuals may find themselves
immunocompromised.
The spread of this fungus bears
watching especially with the large number of Covid-19
"vaccinated" people in the U.S. and the numerous hospitals
and health care facilities - like nursing homes,
retirement homes, assisted living facilities, etc.
We would see an exponential
increase in this infection as the infected/colonized
health care workers in hospitals and nursing homes and
infected/colonized individuals coming in over the border
spread this to an immunocompromised general public.
These colonized individuals could very well be
asymptomatic. Spreading this and not knowing it as
they transmit it on door knobs, computer keyboards,
phones, taxi and airline seats, bathroom stalls/faucets,
etc.
Good hygiene is important.
Hand washing and keeping hands away from the face are big
parts of this good hygiene.
This fungus infection -
spread/numbers - certainly bears watching.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem!
Maranatha!
Chance