Monday, April 15, 2019

Mysterious Infection - Grecia Jimenez

Drug resistant germs are becoming a threat to public health at an alarming rate. An elderly man was admitted to the Brooklyn branch of Mount Sinai Hospital for abdominal surgery last May when a blood test revealed that he was infected with a newly discovered, deadly and mysterious fungus. This germ is called Canadia auris, it preys on its host's immune system; it's quietly spreading across the globe. Recently, C. auris reached New York, Illinois and New Jersey, leading the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to add it to a list of germs deemed "urgent threats". The man died after 90 days hospitalized; however, C. auris was still alive and all over his room. This fungus was so invasive that the hospital needed special cleaning equipment and tear out ceiling and floor tiles to eradicate it. Scientists believe that this germ is so resistant to major anti-fungal medications because of the constant use of antibiotics in the wrong occasions. Overusing said medications could lead to a serious outbreak of medicine resistant germs across the world.

This occurrence reminds me of the John F. Kennedy and his wife Jacky began using injections to treat JFK's intense back pain. John was in constant pain for the majority of his days so he and his wife became reliant on this drug. Although they knew it was wrong, they became addicted and injected themselves weekly. Too much of a good thing can be bad.

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