Expert: 15 Percent Fungal Infection Cases Occur in Hospital

For some people, visiting hospitals for treatment may bring side effects as around 10 to 15 percent of fungal infection cases occur in hospital settings and carry high risks of mortality and morbidity. The risk of catching these infections are higher among patients with low immunity, which include HIV, uncontrolled diabetes, cancer, surgery, and organ transplant patients, experts said. According to Dr Prashant Saxena, Head & Associate Director Pulmonology, Critical Care & Sleep Medicine, Max Smart Super specialty hospital, Aspergillosis and candidiasis are the most common invasive fungal infections that occur in hospitals. “Aspergillos is and candidiasis are the most common invasive fungal infections that occur in hospitals. They can be community acquired as well, especially from soil or environmental pathogens. Invasive fungal infections are associated with prolonged hospital and ICU stays, prolonged recovery, increased cost, and high mortality.” he said.

The infections tend to flare up and manifest in the hospital when the patient is undergoing some other treatment and the immunity is low, he added. The infections caught while already undergoing a treatment may require prolonged treatment that may last for around six weeks, said Dr Saxena.  The immunity is already low in the patients undergoing treatments like chemotherapy and organ transplant, he said further. Dr Saxena further said, “Treatments like chemotherapy further suppress the immune system to enable medicines to work. In case of organ transplant it becomes necessary to suppress immunity so that the new organ is accepted by the body, which would otherwise be rejected by the natural immune system.” Experts indicate that it is almost impossible to have a 100 percent uncontaminated space, even in hospitals. In many cases, the infection already exists in latent state in patients. Amidst this, the doctors from various other hospitals also suggest some measures to prevent the infections by taking precautions such as avoiding the consumption of over-the-counter antibiotics or drugs and avoiding the consumption of overripe fruits. – Daily Pioneer