Fresh warning over killer fungal infection dubbed 'threat to humanity' - medics desperately hunt for a cure
Candida auris (C. auris)—described by the World Health Organisation as one of 19 lethal fungi posing a 'serious threat to humanity'—is spreading in hospitals worldwide and becoming increasingly resistant to the handful of medicines that work against it.
Since its discovery, the fungus has been linked to deaths around the world, with fatality rates estimated at roughly one in three cases.
In the newly reported case, a 34-year-old man developed the infection nearly three months after suffering a traumatic brain injury in a car crash.
Medics at Saqr Hospital in Ras Al-Khaimah said he was admitted to intensive care bleeding from his mouth, with several cuts and a severe scalp laceration.
Scans revealed multiple brain bleeds and he underwent an emergency procedure where part of the skull is removed to relieve pressure.
He spent three weeks in intensive care before being moved to a ward, undergoing further surgeries and antibiotic treatment over the next two months.
Tests carried out after surgery to remove excess fluid from the brain on his 99th day in hospital showed he had a C. auris infection.
The fungus, first identified in 2009, can survive on hospital surfaces and the skin for long periods, is often resistant to disinfectants and medication, and can spread to the blood, brain, spinal cord, bones, abdomen, ears, lungs and urinary system.
Doctors prescribed the patient three weeks of antifungal injections, followed by two drugs via an IV drip for 15 days and then an 11-day course of antifungal tablets, stopping only when blood tests came back clear.
Repeat tests showed the infection had been eliminated, and he was discharged after seven months in hospital.
Writing in the Journal of Medical Case Reports, his doctors said: 'The excessive use of antifungal agents in agriculture and healthcare has contributed to the development of antifungal resistance in C. auris.
'To our knowledge, this is the first case report documenting successful management of a C. auris external ventricular shunt infection without the use of intrathecal antifungal administration.'
For years, fungal infections have been treated with a small number of drugs, but research shows most are becoming increasingly resistant—a trend driven by overuse, particularly in countries where antifungals can be bought over the counter.
People with weakened immune systems, those who have recently received healthcare abroad, spent long periods in hospital or intensive care, or been treated with certain antibiotics, are at higher risk.
In the UK, C. auris is now a notifiable infection, meaning all cases must be reported to help control outbreaks.
C. auris was first discovered in 2009 in the ear of a Japanese patient and has since been detected in more than 40 countries across six continents.
It thrives in hospitals, where it can cling to surfaces and equipment for weeks, and is able to survive on human skin without causing symptoms—making it easy to spread between patients.
Once inside the body, often through wounds or contaminated medical equipment, it can cause devastating infections that spread to vital organs.
The World Health Organisation has included it in its list of priority fungal pathogens, warning it poses a 'serious threat to humanity' alongside three other dangerous species—Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans.
Experts say the overuse of antifungal medicines in healthcare and even in agriculture has helped the fungus build up resistance, leaving doctors with fewer options to treat it.
In many developing countries, such medicines are available over the counter without prescription, fuelling misuse and making it easier for resistant strains to emerge.
Patients most at risk are those with weakened immune systems, people who have recently been in intensive care, and those who have been treated with certain antibiotics.
In the UK, all cases must now be reported to health authorities in a bid to stop outbreaks before they take hold.
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Daily Mail
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- Daily Mail
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The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
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I'd advise you to ask some specific questions before having a steroid injection, such as, 'What is the specific diagnosis for my pain?' or, 'Is this pain mechanical, inflammatory, neuropathic or possibly related to implant failure?' and, 'What exactly are you injecting, and into what structure?'. Don't accept vague answers, such as talk of generalised inflammation. I'd advise asking to be referred back to the team who did your operation, or consider getting a second opinion from a revision knee specialist (an orthopaedic surgeon who focuses on failed joint replacements). There may well be long wait times, but this does not mean you shouldn't get referred.
The Sun
7 hours ago
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I feared sharp chest pains at 25 were a heart attack – it was ‘popcorn lung' after vaping left ‘OIL filling my organs'
HAVING switched from smoking to vaping two years ago, Cloey Eyes thought she was avoiding the smell of smoke she hated so much, as well as opting for a healthier alternative. But when she woke up with sharp chest pains one morning and feared the worst - that she was having a heart attack and was going to die - she claims doctors discovered a sinister side effect of using e-cigarettes. 5 5 Cloey made the switch to vaping in August 2023 after smoking cigarettes for three years, mainly over her dislike of the smell. But when the mum-of-five woke up with "sharp" pains in her chest on July 12 this year, she called an ambulance as she feared she was having a heart attack. The 25-year-old was rushed to hospital in Ocala, Florida, where she was hooked up to oxygen and a heart monitor. But after undergoing tests, she was told she had "popcorn lung"-type injuries and claims doctors discovered an oily substance had been found building up in her lungs. Vaping has been known to lead to lipoid pneumonia, in which oily substances inhaled during vaping lead to a build-up in the lungs, causing inflammation and damage. The stay-at-home mum is now raising awareness about her vaping experience and is urging others to stop smoking them before it's too late. Cloey says: "I woke up at 2:30am in the morning and my chest felt like it was having a heart attack. "I had really bad pains in my chest and had to lean over. I couldn't catch my breath, and I had to hit myself in the chest multiple times to be able to catch my breath. "I was terrified at the pain, and I felt like I was going to die as I was scared I was going to not be able to breathe at all. "It was a sharp pain in my chest, but it also was a suffocating feeling. Teen told he was coughing up 'pints' of blood due to a stomach ulcer caused by kebabs - 'excessive vaping' was to blame "The ambulance came and got me, and I was taken to hospital, and they said my left lung had an oil pocket in it. "Around both my lungs was oil. It was scary to hear this. It's the oil from the vape, and this is thickening up as you hit it [the vape] and attaching itself to your lungs. "I technically at that point had popcorn lung. That's what they call it here." 'Non-stop' vaping Cloey said she would go through one 5000-puff disposable vape every two weeks and would use it "non-stop" due to the convenience. After staying overnight in hospital, she was discharged and prescribed antibiotics, an inhaler and cough suppressant medication. Cloey claims it will take a year for her lungs to heal completely and is now raising awareness to others about the dangers of vaping. As a person I would tell people to put the vape down, especially if you're a parent. You don't think it's going to happen to you. I didn't think it would Cloey Eyes She said: "I would smoke the vape every day non-stop. I used the vape more than when I smoked, as it was handy and right there. "I would never pick up a vape again, especially because I'm a mum. I went cold turkey and quit vaping. "I'm not struggling with it at all, as what happened to me scared me, and I don't want to do it anymore. "I feel 10 times better now as I have stopped completely. My lungs feel better, and I don't feel out of breath all the time. "As a person, I would tell people to put the vape down, especially if you're a parent. You don't think it's going to happen to you. I didn't think it would. "Even if you don't go through the pain, the amount of chemicals going through your lungs is probably knocking about 10 years off your life. "I turned 25 last Saturday and to think I could have lost my life from vaping is just not worth it." 5 5 What is 'popcorn lung'? Popcorn lung, also known as bronchiolitis obliterans, is a rare and severe lung disease caused by a build-up of scar tissue in the lungs, which then blocks the flow of air. The condition is caused by inhaling certain chemicals, like diacetyl - an organic compound which occurs naturally in alcoholic beverages and some cheeses and is added as a flavouring to some foods to impart its buttery flavour. Around the year 2000, a group of popcorn factory workers in the USA developed the condition, which led to the name 'popcorn lung'. Diacetyl was used as a flavouring in the popcorn, which meant workers were breathing in the chemical. Other common causes of bronchiolitis obliterans include infections, such as RSV and the flu, breathing in toxic chemicals like sulfur mustard gas, and autoimmune conditions, including rheumatoid arthritis. Popcorn lung and vaping There haven't been any confirmed cases of popcorn lung linked to vaping. But people have connected the two because some of the liquids in e-cigarettes used to contain diacetyl. In the UK, diacetyl was banned in e-cigarettes and e-liquids under the EU Tobacco Products Directive (TPD) in 2016. Another condition that's been linked to vaping and oil build-up in the lungs is lipoid pneumonia. As vaping involves heating e-liquids, which often contain oils, into an aerosol that is then inhaled, these oily substances can deposit in the lungs' air sacs (alveoli), leading to an inflammatory reaction and potentially lipoid pneumonia. Diagnosing vaping-associated lipoid pneumonia can be challenging due to overlapping symptoms with other lung conditions. But signs to look out for include a cough, shortness of breath, chest pain, and fever. IS VAPING HARMFUL? WHILE vaping is generally considered less harmful than smoking cigarettes, it's not completely harmless and its long-term effects are still being studied. Vaping products generally contain fewer toxic chemicals than cigarette smoke, as they don't involve the combustion of tobacco. They may also expose users to fewer cancer-causing substances compared to smoking. But vaping delivers nicotine, which is addictive, and the long-term effects of this on the body are still being researched. And there have been reports of lung irritation and respiratory problems, including lung damage. Cancer Research UK advises: "There is no good evidence that vaping causes cancer. "But e-cigarettes are not risk-free. They can cause side effects such as throat and mouth irritation, headache, cough and feeling sick. These side effects tend to reduce over time with continued use. "We don't know yet what effects they might have in the long term. "E-cigarettes should only be used to help you stop smoking, or to stop you going back to tobacco. "Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive. "If you have never smoked, you shouldn't use e-cigarettes."
