Gert van der Hoek
In Memoriam - Editor, Senior Moderator
9 JULY 2016 •
[FONT="][FONT="]A[/FONT][FONT="] [/FONT]deadly new superbug has emerged in the UK, forcing the closure of a major NHS intensive care unit after three deaths.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Almost 50 patients have been afflicted with the rare fungus which can sweep through the bloodstream causing infections and death. Thirteen patients - including three who died - have fallen victim to the infection at a major London hospital while 34 more have been identified as carriers of the pathogen.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The fungus, called Candida auris – was first found in Japan in 2009, in a patient’s ear.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Since then it has spread rapidly round the globe, emerging in South Africa, Kuwait, India, Pakistan, Colombia, Venezuela and South Korea.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Global studies have found six in ten of those infected with the fungus die, though it has not been possible to prove whether the bug has caused the deaths.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Health officials are particularly worried about the bug because of its propensity to transmit between hospital patients. It has also shown resistance to the three main classes of anti-fungal treatment.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The world-renowned Royal Brompton Hospital trust admitted on Friday that it was forced to close its intensive care unit for almost two weeks last month as it battled the deadly infection.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Those infected included three patients who died from multi-organ failure.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The hospital said it was impossible to know whether the infection contributed to the deaths of patients, whose immune systems were severely compromised.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Despite instituting a “deep clean” and transferring desperately sick patients out of the west London unit, the infection has maintained its hold.
READ MORE[/FONT]
[FONT="][FONT="]A[/FONT][FONT="] [/FONT]deadly new superbug has emerged in the UK, forcing the closure of a major NHS intensive care unit after three deaths.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Almost 50 patients have been afflicted with the rare fungus which can sweep through the bloodstream causing infections and death. Thirteen patients - including three who died - have fallen victim to the infection at a major London hospital while 34 more have been identified as carriers of the pathogen.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The fungus, called Candida auris – was first found in Japan in 2009, in a patient’s ear.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Since then it has spread rapidly round the globe, emerging in South Africa, Kuwait, India, Pakistan, Colombia, Venezuela and South Korea.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Global studies have found six in ten of those infected with the fungus die, though it has not been possible to prove whether the bug has caused the deaths.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Health officials are particularly worried about the bug because of its propensity to transmit between hospital patients. It has also shown resistance to the three main classes of anti-fungal treatment.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The world-renowned Royal Brompton Hospital trust admitted on Friday that it was forced to close its intensive care unit for almost two weeks last month as it battled the deadly infection.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Those infected included three patients who died from multi-organ failure.[/FONT]
[FONT="]The hospital said it was impossible to know whether the infection contributed to the deaths of patients, whose immune systems were severely compromised.[/FONT]
[FONT="]Despite instituting a “deep clean” and transferring desperately sick patients out of the west London unit, the infection has maintained its hold.
READ MORE[/FONT]