Two of the victims were infected with a resistant fungus
Team of scientists discovered a fungus that became resistant to medicinesHis name is Rhodosporidiobolus fluvialis and called death from two people who were sampled as part of the investigation into the pathogen.
The truth is that human body temperature protects against fungal infections, but this microorganism managed to adapt to a warmer climate and became resistant to antifungal drugs. For this reason, the scientists of the program China Hospital Invasive Fungal Disease Surveillance Network took samples of fungi from patients who died in the country between 2009 and 2016 for study.
Scientists Discover Drug-Resistant Fungus
In accordance with World Health Organization (WHO)by 2022, 1.7 million people die every year. as a consequence of diseases caused by fungi in the world. However, according to Sunthis figure would increase to doublewhat worries scientists.
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The discovery of mutations in this specific strain is frightening because the effects of climate change could make these types of infections more dangerous for people.
The fungus was first detected in the blood of two patients. One of them occurred in 2013 with a 61-year-old man who was admitted to hospital with acute pancreatitis and kidney pain. Given this, professionals started treatment with antifungal drugsbut died of multiple organ failure in the intensive care unit in Nanjing.
The other patient was 85 years old and died in 2016 after being hospitalized for a number of health problems. Doctors prescribed him the same medications as the patient who died in 2013, but he ended up dying from respiratory failure.
In any case, it is not indicated in the report If a fungal infection caused death or if they were infected only at that time.
The Impact of Climate Change on Fungal Mutation
According to a study published on a specialized website Natural microbiology, some strains adapted to higher temperaturesso they came to the conclusion that “Global warming may promote the evolution of this fungal pathogen or other emerging fungal pathogens.“.
David Denning, professor of infectious diseases at the University of Manchester, commented on the study, which he was not involved in, telling Science magazine that “This is a remarkable and truly unexpected discovery that does not bode well for the future.“.
For his part, Arturo Casadevall, a microbiologist at Johns Hopkins University in the US, said: “Thanks to our temperature, we have a huge defense against environmental fungi. However, if the world warms up and fungi also begin to adapt to higher temperatures, some They will reach what I call the temperature barrier.“.