Which was only discovered a few years ago Mushroom and pathogens Candida auris is spreading rapidly Germany out of. 2023 be it nationwide 77 times been proven. That be six times more common than in previous years, as can be seen from the evaluation of the National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections (NRZMyk), based in Jena.
The first one Yeast discovered in 2009 can be transmitted between humans and is immune to various medications.
“We are currently assuming with a high degree of certainty that this is a real increase in the number of cases and not a ‘better recording’,” said Oliver Kurzai from the Institute for Hygiene and Microbiology at the University of Würzburg, also head of NRZMyk, on Thursday . So far, however, the reference center has been no death known in Germany, which can be directly traced back to an infection with the yeast fungus. Nevertheless, the mushroom is dangerousespecially for people who are previously ill or have a weakened immune system.
According to Kurzai’s information, next to Bloodstream infections (“Fungal sepsis”) in particular Infections of prostheses and foreign materials in the body caused by Candida auris is threatening and difficult to treat, such as infections of Joint prostheses.
Researchers insist on a general reporting requirement
The research team led by Alexander M. Aldejohann from the University of Würzburg published the increase in the number of cases in Germany in the Epidemiological Bulletin of the Robert Koch Institute. Only some of these cases were recorded as part of the reporting requirement introduced in 2023, as this only applies to certain infections. A further increase in the number of cases In Germany it must be assumed that a general reporting requirement for every laboratory detection could slow down the spread of the fungus. It also advises comprehensive testing on Candida auris.
The fungus usually does not affect healthy people. In Hospitals and care facilities it can become a problem, especially in intensive care units. Transmission occurs via smear infections. The pathogen does not spread through the air, such as the coronavirus. “If Candida auris gets into your bloodstream, there is a risk of blood poisoning, which ends fatally in just over half of all cases,” the researchers write.
Outbreaks mainly in clinics
In 58 of 77 cases registered in Germany last year, the patients were infected with the fungus. According to the researchers, infection occurred in 13 other cases. In 6 cases the status is unclear. Of the colonized patients or those with unclear infection status, 5 would have one later in life invasive infection developed. The most common infections were wound and tissue infections, bloodstream and catheter-associated infections and prosthetic infections.
The increase in Candida auris is mainly due to three outbreaks attributed, it is said. “The enormous increase in 2023 surprised us. The decisive factor here is, above all, outbreaks in hospitals. If these are not recognized early and dealt with adequately, they will be very difficult to get under control later,” explained Aldejohann.
The yeast Candida auris, which was only discovered in 2009 quickly spread internationally. From the beginning, the extremely stubborn pathogen was against some Antifungalsanti-fungal medications, and some Disinfectant resistant.
