Topics News

Airborne

WHO Technical Document: Global technical consultation report on proposed terminology for pathogens that transmit through the air

World Health Organization (WHO)

18 April 2024

International experts reach consensus on a set of descriptors to describe how pathogens are transmitted through the air and the related modes of transmission.

keywords: aerosol transmission, anthrax, covid-19, direct deposition, droplets, fungi, Infectious Respiratory Particles, Influenza Virus, IRP, measles

Disinfection

An Overview on Candida auris in Healthcare Settings

NIH / Journal of Fungi

1 September 2023

Cristina ML, Spagnolo AM, Sartini M, Carbone A, Oliva M, Schinca E, Boni S, Pontali E
This pathogenic fungus shows an innate resilience, enabling survival and persistence in healthcare environment and the ability to rapidly colonize the patient’s skin and be easily transmitted within the healthcare setting, thus leading to a serious and prolonged outbreak.

keywords: antifungal resistance, candida auris, control measures, epidemiology, fungi, healthcare, prevention

Sporicidal disinfectants shown more effective against Candida auris

CIDRAP

2 August 2023

keywords: disinfection, Drug-Resistant Candida auris, fungi, quatemary-ammonium, sporicide

Drug-Resistant

Candida auris: A drug-resistant fungus that spreads in healthcare facilities - A CDC message to laboratory staff

CDC

keywords: Drug-Resistant Candida auris, drug-resistant fungi, laboratory safety, risk assessment

Fact Sheets

Drug-Resistant Candida Species

CDC

keywords: Drug-Resistant Candida, fact sheet, risk assessment

Drug-Resistant Candida auris

CDC

keywords: Drug-Resistant Candida auris, drug-resistant fungi, fact sheet

Fungal Infections

Notes from the Field: Trichophyton mentagrophytes Genotype VII — New York City, April–July 2024

CDC / MMWR

20 October 2024

Zucker J, Caplan AS, Gunaratne SH, et al.
5 cases diagnosed in NYC in summer 2024, previously not seen in the US.

keywords: fungi, genital tinea, ringworm, trichophyton mentagrophytes

Global Incidence and Mortality of Severe Fungal Disease

The Lancet

6 September 2023

Denning D
The annual total of deaths from fungal disease worldwide has risen to 3.75 million, double the previous estimate, according to this preprint paper.

keywords: Antifungal, Aspergillus, Candida Cryptococcus, diagnosis, fungal infections, Histoplasma, mucormycosis, Pneumocystis Talaromyces

Increased Hospitalizations Involving Fungal Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, United States, January 2020–December 2021

CDC / Emerging Infectious Diseases

1 July 2023

Gold J, Adjei S, Gundlapalli AV, Huang YA, Chiller T, Benedict K, et al.
COVID-19 infection is a substantial risk factor for certain fungal infections, particularly those caused by invasive molds.

keywords: Covid infection, covid-19, fungal infections, fungi

Candida auris in Dog Ears

Journal of Fungi

30 June 2020

Yadav A, Wang Y, Jain K, Panwar VAR, Kaur H, Kasana V, Xu J, Chowdhary A
The authors analysed the microbial cultures of skin and ear swabs of 87 dogs in Delhi and performed fungal meta-barcode sequencing of ear and skin samples of 7 dogs with confirmed otitis externa (OE).

keywords: dog, fungal infections, fungi, zoonosis

Fungal Infections Associated with Contaminated Methylprednisolone Injections

The New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM)

24 October 2013

Smith RM, Schaefer MK, Kainer MA, et al.
The authors concluded: Analysis of data from a large, multistate outbreak of fungal infections showed substantial morbidity and mortality.

keywords: Exserohilum rostratum, fungal infections, fungi, outbreak

Journal Article

A Candida auris–specific adhesin, Scf1, governs surface association, colonization, and virulence

Science

28 September 2023

Santana DJ, et al.
C. auris has a specific and dominant adhesin called Surface Colonization Factor (SCF1), which adheres by cation-dependent interactions to a wide range of biotic and abiotic surfaces.

keywords: Drug-Resistant Candida auris, healthcare, outbreak

News

The devil lurking in the dust: How extreme weather is driving a deadly fungus further into the American West

Vox

20 April 2023

Discusses the spread of Valley fever, under-reporting, diagnostic failures, effects of climate change, etc.

keywords: coccidioidomycosis, fungal infections, fungi, Valley fever

Prevention

Copper-Infused Solid Surface Kills Drug-Resistant Fungus Plaguing Nursing Homes

Yahoo Finance News

14 August 2023

keywords: copper, Drug-Resistant Candida auris, fungi, nursing home

CDC Actions to Prevent the Spread of Antifungal Resistance

CDC

keywords: drug-resistant fungi, prevention

Resources

Healthcare-Associated Fungal Meningitis

CDC

This is a disease-specific page form the CDC

keywords: Aspergillus glactomannan, fungal infections, fungal meningitis, fungi, healthcare, testing

Outbreak of Suspected Fungal Meningitis in U.S. Patients who Underwent Surgical Procedures under Epidural Anesthesia in Matamoros, Mexico

CDC / Health Alert Network (HAN)

17 May 2023

This report includes specific Recommendations for Clinical Laboratories

keywords: Aspergillus glactomannan, fungal infections, fungal meningitis, fungi, testing

ZOHU Call: Sporotrichosis: overview and updates on an emerging zoonotic disease threat

CDC

1 March 2023

Cat-transmitted sporotrichosis has emerged as a zoonotic epidemic and major public health threat in Brazil with the potential of spreading to the United States

keywords: drug-resistant fungi, fungal infections, fungi, sporotrichosis

WHO fungal priority pathogens list to guide research, development and public health action

WHO

25 October 2022

This document is the first global effort to systematically prioritize fungal pathogens, considering their unmet research and development (R&D) needs and perceived public health importance.

keywords: fungal infections, fungal PH, fungi, research, WHO