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Health risk from Candida auris New yeast infection is spreading more and more in Germany
About eight years ago, a new cause of fungal infections was detected in Japan for the first time. In the meantime, the yeast fungus Candida auris is rife in the US, the UK and India, among others. Now several cases have been registered in Germany. For some groups of people the fungus represents a deadly danger.
Dangerous yeast fungus on the rise
Last fall, the US Department of Health (CDC) reported a new fungal disease, which in some cases is fatal. The yeast Candida auris was therefore associated with several deaths in the United States. The fungus was first detected in a patient in Japan in 2009. But meanwhile he is also raging in many other countries - among others in Germany.
In Germany and other countries, a dangerous yeast fungus is currently spreading. Candida auris can have fatal consequences for some groups of people. Many diagnostic laboratories are not yet prepared for the new pathogen. (Image: jarun011 / fotolia.com) Infection can be life threatening
Many microorganisms live on the skin, including yeasts. Fungi of the species Candida can be detected in about 75 percent of humans. With a healthy immune system, the yeast fungus on the skin and mucous membranes are usually no problem.
They live on the skin without being noticed. And even if they lead to yeast infections of the skin, simple home remedies for candida can often help.
However, when the new yeast Candida auris enters the bloodstream, the infection that often occurs in hospitals and other health care facilities can become life-threatening.
CDC Director Tom Frieden said in a press release last year, "We need to act now to better understand, control and delay the spread of this drug-resistant mushroom."
Several cases registered in Germany
But apparently the distribution could not be stopped yet. In recent months, numerous diseases with the dangerous yeast fungus have been recorded in the USA, Great Britain and India among others.
Experts now also expect an increase in cases for Germany. The National Reference Center for Invasive Fungal Infections (NRZMyk) in Jena has already registered three cases in 2015 following an isolated case in 2015 this year.
"However, it can be assumed that the case numbers are higher. There are certainly laboratories, which the pathogen has slipped through, "explained center director Oliver Kurzai in a message from the news agency dpa.
People with weakened immune systems are at risk
Candida auris inhabits the ears and the respiratory tract, but it can also cause serious infections in the blood or wounds.
However, according to health experts, the fungus is a deadly danger for people with a weakened immune system, diabetics or premature births - these groups often suffer multiple organ failure after infection.
According to Kurzai, yeast does not pose a threat to a healthy person. "However, there are still no clear risk profiles due to the relatively few cases so far," says the expert.
According to the information, many diagnostic laboratories are not yet sufficiently prepared for the yeast fungus, which has only been known for a few years. Even medical staff, the pathogen is not yet sufficiently familiar.
"The current standard procedures for fungal infections do not recognize this yeast fungus. In the best case, the tests only show that something is wrong, "said the physician in the dpa message.
Now the manufacturers of the test procedures are on the train. You would need to update the databases on which the tests are based.
Infected patients died
Based on the relatively few cases so far, the US Department of Health (CDC) has found that approximately 40 to 60 percent of patients infected with Candida auris have died.
However, it is usually not possible to say exactly whether the fungus was actually the cause, because it was in each case with seriously ill patients.
The yeast, which is resistant to many anti-fungal agents, according to Kurzai is only identifiable in the laboratory.
"The most important thing is that you recognize the fungus," says the expert, according to dpa. But: "The identification with conventional methods is currently insufficient," writes the NRZMyk on its website.
In addition, there is currently no obligation to report infections with Candida auris. (Ad)