[Warning] New Fungus Killing Hospital Patients
By
Natalie Moore
Posted November 14, 2016
Dear Living Well Daily Reader,
Going to the hospital is never a treat — either you’ve had a painful accident, are very ill or are about to undergo an uncomfortable test or treatment.
But sometimes you get more than medical just attention while you’re there.
Sometimes you also get nasty infection.
They’re called hospital-acquired infections, and over 700,000 Americans suffer from them every year.
While some are treatable with antibiotics, there’s a new one that’s baffling researchers and killing hospital patients.
This new culprit is a yeast called Candida auris.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it’s responsible for at least 13 infections among hospital patients.
But the bad news gets worse — this dangerous fungus may’ve had a hand in the deaths of four of these patients.
And CDC experts fear cases might skyrocket.
One reason for this is that the fungus can spread within hospitals. For instance, two cases appeared in an Illinois hospital, and two cases were found in a New Jersey hospital. In both hospitals, the patients were on different wards, but the fungus could’ve been spread through contact with hospital workers or medical equipment.
Secondly, the fungus is difficult to identify. There are only a few lab tests that can pinpoint it, one of which is DNA sequencing. Because of this, the potentially deadly fungus might be responsible for many more infections that went unidentified or were misidentified.
Most alarmingly, many samples of the fungus are resistant to most antifungal medications. As of right now, there’s only one drug known to have an effect. This means that even if the fungus is identified, it’s extremely hard to treat.
While this latest infectious discovery is scary, it’s not the only drug-resistant bug you can pick up at the hospital. Currently, there are many drug-resistant organisms in the U.S., 18 of which the CDC has listed as “biggest threats.”
These bugs are a real danger — they can lead to serious, deadly infections and are seemingly everywhere.
Fortunately, there is something you can do to protect yourself.
When you’re in the hospital, as a patient or otherwise, let the staff know you’re informed and concerned about hospital-acquired infections.
And since these bugs can travel through facilities, don’t be shy about asking about the hospital’s infection control plan or telling workers to change gloves before entering your room or rewash their hands before they treat you — doing so just might save your life.
Live well,
Natalie Moore
Managing editor, Living Well Daily
P.S. We need your advice. Do you suffer from diabetes or high blood sugar? Click here to take a short survey, and give us your input.
Ed. Note: Please send your feedback: nmoore@lfb.org – and click here to like us on Facebook.
Sources
[1] First Cases Of New, Infectious Fungus Reported In U.S.
[3] Biggest Threats
[4] Manuka Honey
Written By Natalie Moore
Natalie Moore is a dedicated health researcher with a passion for finding healthy, natural, and science-based solutions. After a decade of direct healthcare experience in western and natural medicine, she was involved in public health research before joining Living Well Daily.
View More Free Articles
Nature’s Pharmacy Knocks Out Long COVID Symptoms
I’ve had many people ask me about Long COVID recently. It’s a big concern because it’s affecting more survivors than you might think. If you’re one of them—before you resign yourself to a life of lingering symptoms—there’s hope on the horizon… And it comes straight from Mother Nature herself. Recent data paints a sobering picture....
11 Hacks to Beat the Winter Blues
As the days grow shorter and the nights longer, many of us find ourselves battling more than just the cold weather. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a form of depression that strikes during fall and winter, affects millions each year. While the exact causes aren’t fully understood, experts say that seasonal changes disrupt our body’s circadian...
Mailbag: Halt Hair Loss Naturally
“I take a lot of vitamins, but my hair is falling out by the handfuls. I am 85 years old, but don’t have any major health problems that I know of.” – Hair Today Gone Tomorrow Hi Hair Today, I understand your concern about hair loss. Few things make us feel older than our years, quite...
5 Fall Foods to Supercharge Your Immune System
It starts with a tickle in the back of your throat… Or a little sniffle or sneeze—and before you know it, you’re knocked down for the count. Cold and flu season has arrived. If you’ve managed to escape these sneaky little viruses so far, let’s try to keep it that way. Because, let’s be honest,...
Common Chemicals Could Be Sabotaging Your Sleep
Do you have trouble sleeping? Many of us blame common causes like afternoon coffee or evening screen time. But what if the real culprit is something you’d never expect—lurking right in your home? New research points to troubling evidence about how everyday chemicals could sabotage your shut-eye… Scientists have uncovered an alarming link between common...
The Forgotten Berry Your Bones Are Craving
Strawberries and blueberries rank first and second as America’s favorite berries. And, of course, cranberries shoot to the top of the list around this time of year. But there’s another underrated berry we should be giving a second look. Especially if you’re a senior concerned about your bone health. Because new research reveals this unassuming...
Gut Hack Helps You Avoid the Flu
Flu season hasn’t ramped up… yet. According to the CDC’s FluView, we’re still hovering at around one percent of the population testing positive for influenza. That’s fantastic news… but it doesn’t mean it’s time to rest. In fact, NOW is the time to prepare, because this is the calm before this season’s storm. As the...
Ditch “Calendar Age” to Live Longer and BETTER
“Age is just a number.” If we’ve heard that phrase once, we’ve heard it a thousand times. So, it’s easy to dismiss the thought. But the truth is, how old you feel is more critical than the number of candles on your birthday cake. Let me explain… Imagine the following scenario… Two 65-year-olds walk into...
5 Reasons to Eat MORE Pumpkin This Fall
When you think of fall, what comes to mind? Colorful leaves? Cozy sweaters? How about pumpkins? Sure, you probably carved one for Halloween, and you may bake a couple cans of it into a pie for Thanksgiving. But what if I told you that this humble squash could ALSO be your secret weapon for staying...
Mailbag: Break Free from Cholesterol Lowering Statins
“What’s my alternative to a statin drug for cholesterol control? I’ve been suggested to take Red Yeast Rice a natural cholesterol control. Best way to keep my arteries clear of plaque?” – Skipping Statins Hi Skipping, I don’t need to tell you how vital cardiovascular health is. However, the medical establishment insists that the only path...