The deadly fungal infection surging in U.S. hospitals

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What to know about Candida auris By Haley Weiss Health Reporter The CDC is charting the rapid spread of a fungal threat that can be lethal to the immunocompromised—but can be stopped before becoming an infection in most healthy people. New data show that Candida auris yeast is doing real damage in U.S. hospitals and other care centers. The number of cases nationally grew by 95% in 2021, and infections have now been recorded in 28 states and D.C. The pandemic, which made it difficult for hospitals to focus on perfecting protocol for much else besides COVID-19, may also have given this superbug a boost. Here's what to know about C. auris: Infections are rare but serious. Mortality rates are about 30%, and symptoms can include fever and chills, followed by organ failure. It's resistant to treatment. C. auris evolves remarkably fast compared to similar species. In doing so, it’s become pan-resistant, which means that for most bloodstream infections, none of the three major classes of anti-fungal drugs work against it. It can be mitigated. Hospitals are amping up their disinfection and screening processes against C. auris. If you're visiting or admitted to a health care facility, you can ask what their procedures are to help prevent the spread. READ MORE   Share the story

What else to read All Types of Hormonal Birth Control Share a Slightly Increased Risk of Breast Cancer, Study Says By Haley Weiss A U.K. study links progestin-only birth control to the same increased breast-cancer risk as combined hormonal birth control. Read More » More Than Half of the World Will Be Obese By 2035, Report Says By Jeffrey Kluger The estimated cost? $4 trillion per year. Read More » Column: Florida Politicians Want Less Talk About Periods. We Need More of It By Jennifer Weiss-Wolf Menstrual literacy has life-saving impacts, writes Jennifer Weiss-Wolf. Read More » What We Know About Leaky Gut Syndrome By Elaine K. Howley Leaky gut is a condition in which the lining of the intestines become inflamed, damaged, or irritated. Read More » Love Languages Actually Do Improve Your Relationship By Angela Haupt Research links relationship satisfaction to whether partners use each other's preferred love language. Read More »

ONE LAST READ The aftermath of ketamine clinic closures For some people, ketamine is far more than a club drug; it’s a potentially lifesaving treatment for serious mental-health conditions including depression and suicidal behavior. So when a chain of ketamine treatment centers shut down with only 30 minutes’ warning on Mar. 10, patients were left scrambling. STAT has more details on this sad story and what it means for the nascent field of psychedelic medicine. Read More »

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