Let's start with an old story. A few years ago, the family transferred an article "There are "man-eating bacteria" in many places in the United States, and they are like zombies after infection. At a glance, it is a kind of necrotizing fasciitis caused by bacteria, this disease has always existed clinically, Baidu Encyclopedia has explained, but it is not common and not so scary.
The media sometimes publish some shocking headlines, and ordinary people do not know the inside story, they will think that it is a terrible new disease. See the title "The End of America" actually staged today? The deadly virus in half of the U.S. ... is also similar to seeing "man-eating bacteria".
Indeed, the CDC issued a statement on March 20 mentioning that more cases of Candida auris are circulating in hospitals, with more than 3,700 cases since 2016, and the article also mentioned that this increase may also be related to increased testing. Candida auris generally does not infect healthy people. However, severe patients, intubated patients, or hospitalized patients are at increased risk of Candida auris infection. The fungus is also often drug-resistant.
On the issue of Candida auris, I would like to make three points.
First, Candida auris is not a new thing, it has been closely watched by the medical community, and it can be regarded as a flower master.
For example, in 2019, the CDC published a list of drug-resistant threatening strains, including Candida auris among the five "emergency threat" strains.
In fact, this candida auris in 2019 Chinese media has reported that "the super fungus with a fatality rate of 60% is listed as an emergency threat by the United States, and there have been 18 confirmed infections in China", and China Youth Daily also specially made a popular science "Don't panic!" on May 20, 2019. Not all Candida auris is a "superfungus".
For example, in 2022, the WHO listed 19 fungi that pose the greatest threat to public health, including Candida auris.
So the CDC has been paying attention to reports about this fungus.
Second, antibiotic resistance is a big problem worldwide.
Some people say that it is more difficult to get antibiotics than to get a gun, so that drug-resistant strains are still spreading, and areas with less strict antibiotic management should pay more attention.
I remember reading an article in New York where antibiotic bacteria were more severe in Queens, and the survey found that it was related to more antibiotic use by Chinese and Mexican immigrants.
WHO specifically mentions:
1. Antibiotic resistance threatens global public health and development. Multisectoral action is urgently needed to achieve the goals of sustainable development.
2. WHO has declared antibiotic resistance to be one of the top ten global public health threats facing humanity.
3. Misuse and overuse of antibiotics are major factors in the development of drug-resistant bacteria.
In the recent outbreak of the new crown, those who give antibiotics without evidence, or use the "barefoot doctor four-piece set" are the most typical abuse of antibiotics. As one article said, "If you are resistant, there may be no cure in the future."
Third, hospitals are actually dangerous places.
Note that this CDC statement indicates that "there has been an increase in cases of Candida auris circulating in the healthcare system." Because antibiotics are used more in hospitals, almost all of the bacteria that can survive there are resistant, so don't go to the hospital, in case of iatrogenic infection, it will be worth the loss.
An interesting difference observed among Chinese and American doctors is that American patients rush to be discharged, while Chinese patients refuse to be discharged.
In short, the current increase in cases of Ricoccus auris needs attention, but the global misuse of antibiotics is even more urgent for us to care about and act as soon as possible.