Candida albicans: Progress in the understanding of the mechanisms of genetic diversification in a major fungal pathogen of humans
(Institut Pasteur) Candida albicans is a fungal species causing infection in humans. A team of scientists decided to sequence and analyze the genomes of 182 strains of C. albicans from around the world. They confirmed the clonal reproduction of this human pathogen but also showed that parasexual reproduction, previously only observed in a laboratory setting, contributes to the genetic diversity of C. albicans and therefore also to its ability to adapt to new environments and rid itself of deleterious mutations. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - July 9, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
Do we need to adopt antifungal stewardship programmes
This journal article concludes that the presence of a multidisciplinary team, including an infection control specialist and a clinical pharmacist, would limit the prescription of advanced antifungal agents as empirical therapy. The authors state that this team would control the de-escalation process —where applicable—leading to a reduction in costs and, probably, a decrease in the emergence of resistant Candida species. These facts contribute to the broader discussion on the adoption of antifungal stewardship programmes. (Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH))
Source: Current Awareness Service for Health (CASH) - July 4, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
5 Myths about Bipolar Disorder That Boost Stigma
When therapist Colleen King was 19 years old, a psychiatrist told her that because of her family history—her father and brother having bipolar disorder—she shouldn’t have children.
Today, King’s clients regularly tell her that people have told them they shouldn’t or can’t have loving relationships.
Sadly, these are just two of the many myths about bipolar disorder. Myths that needlessly boost stigma, and, as King noted, deny individuals with bipolar disorder love and connection.
Bipolar disorder is a difficult illness, which can create challenges. But kids and healthy, happy relationships are absolutely possibl...
Source: Psych Central - July 1, 2018 Category: Psychiatry Authors: Margarita Tartakovsky, M.S. Tags: Bipolar Disorders Family General Relationships & Love Self-Help Stigma bipolar disorder and relationships bipolar disorder stereotypes bipolar disorder stigma mania Manic Symptoms Mental Health Stigma myths about bipolar disorder Source Type: news
Armpit Thermometers Helped Spread Fungus at UK Hospital
Armpit thermometers led to a large outbreak of drug-resistant Candida auris fungus in the United Kingdom. (Source: WebMD Health)
Source: WebMD Health - May 4, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
Armpit Thermometers Helped Spread Dangerous Fungus at UK Hospital
FRIDAY, May 4, 2018 -- Armpit thermometers led to a large outbreak of drug-resistant Candida auris fungus in the United Kingdom, researchers say.
The outbreak occurred in Oxford University Hospitals ' neurosciences intensive care unit.
The culprit:... (Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews)
Source: Drugs.com - Daily MedNews - May 4, 2018 Category: General Medicine Source Type: news
Monash study exposes key tactic used by deadly fungus
(Monash University) Associate Professor Ana Traven, in collaboration with the Naderer lab, has found that a lethal fungus destroys the immune cell that would ordinarily kill it, by stealing its source of nutrients. Candida albicans is a microscopic fungus commonly found in the body but which can become a dangerous infection in vulnerable hospital patients. The study demonstrated that the fungus competes with disease-fighting macrophages by rapidly consuming glucose and causing the macrophages to die. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - May 1, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news
FDA Clears First Test for Emerging Pathogen Candida auris FDA Clears First Test for Emerging Pathogen Candida auris
The Bruker Maldi Biotyper CA system can reliably identify C auris 100% of the time.FDA Approvals (Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines)
Source: Medscape Medical News Headlines - April 23, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Infectious Diseases News Alert Source Type: news
Sharing thermometers in hospital spreads Japanese fungus in wards
Shared thermometers used to measure armpit temperature are a likely source of Candida auris -
a dangerous Japanese fungus which has swept through British hospital wards, experts believe. (Source: the Mail online | Health)
Source: the Mail online | Health - April 21, 2018 Category: Consumer Health News Source Type: news
FDA authorizes new use of test, first to identify the emerging pathogen < i > Candida auris < /i >
FDA authorized the first test to identify the emerging pathogen Candida auris, which can cause serious infections in hospitalized patients. (Source: Food and Drug Administration)
Source: Food and Drug Administration - April 20, 2018 Category: American Health Source Type: news
Large Candida auris outbreak linked to multi-use thermometers in UK ICU
(European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases) Outbreaks of the fungal pathogen Candida auris in healthcare settings, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs), may be linked to multi-use patient equipment, such as thermometers, according to research presented at the 28th European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. (Source: EurekAlert! - Biology)
Source: EurekAlert! - Biology - April 20, 2018 Category: Biology Source Type: news
Notes from the Field: Surveillance for Candida auris — Colombia, September 2016–May 2017
(Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - April 19, 2018 Category: American Health Source Type: news
EARLY RELEASE: Candida auris Outbreak in a COVID-19 Specialty Care Unit - Florida, July-August 2020
This report describes a Candida auris outbreak in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who received care in the same dedicated COVID-19 unit of an acute care hospital. (Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report)
Source: CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report - April 17, 2018 Category: American Health Tags: Coronavirus [CoV] MMWR Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report Outbreaks Candida auris COVID-19 Coronavirus Disease 2019 Source Type: news
Activity of Ceragenin CSA-131 against Candida Auris
Published Research Shows Ceragenin CSA-131 ’s Potent Efficacy against Candidaauris, a New Serious Global Health ThreatDUBLIN, OHIO – April 5, 2018 – N8 Medical, LLC today announced a peer-reviewed publication in The Journal ofAntimicrobial Chemotherapy with U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) co-authors of promisingefficacy data regarding the activity of ceragenin CSA-131 against 100 strains of Candida auris (C. auris) collected fromaround the world. (Source: The Aspergillus Website - updates)
Source: The Aspergillus Website - updates - April 9, 2018 Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: ROrritt Source Type: news
Microscopic revelations point to new blood infection therapies
(University of Calgary) Researchers at the University of Calgary's Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) have for the first time been able to observe -- live and in real-time -- how the human body responds to often lethal fungal blood infections in the lung. In the study, the fungal infection Candida albicans was introduced to mice or human models of the lung vasculature and as blood was pumped over that system, researchers recorded what happened using highly sophisticated microscopes. (Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health)
Source: EurekAlert! - Medicine and Health - April 4, 2018 Category: International Medicine & Public Health Source Type: news
T2 Biosystems touts results from 4 studies of its T2Dx diagnostics system
T2 Biosystems this week released results from four studies of its T2Dx blood diagnostics system designed to detect pathogens that cause sepsis, touting clinical and performance advantages when compared to traditional blood cultures.
The four studies were published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy, the Lexington, Mass.-based company said.
A study conducted at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital examined the use of the T2Bacteria panel on the T2Dx, and found that positive results were produced 4.5 times faster at 5.5 hours versus 25 hours with a standard blood culture. Negative results on the T2Bacteria panel were pro...
Source: Mass Device - March 30, 2018 Category: Medical Devices Authors: Fink Densford Tags: Clinical Trials Diagnostics T2 Biosystems Inc. Source Type: news
