Implanted medical devices can also incubate deadly fungal infections

Medical devices that extend lives and improve quality of life for tens of millions of Americans are generally understood to be wonders of modern science. Prosthetic joints and pacemakers are all but a common occurrence in the lives of many, even as they meaningfully alter the health of the patient. But implanting any foreign object into the body also carries risk of introducing deadly fungal infections.

New research from University of Georgia scientists uncovers how a transcription regulator protein for the fungal pathogen Candida albicans coordinates a diverse set of genes to infect medical devices in the human body:

Candida albicans is typically a harmless yeast commonly found in the human body. But overgrowth of the fungus can lead to yeast infections, thrush or even potentially life-threatening invasive candidiasis that can lead to organ failure.

The medical devices that can potentially harbor infections include catheters, pacemakers, artificial heart valves and prosthetic joints.

“Overall infection rates vary … but hover around 500,000 to 1 million per year in the U.S.,” said Aaron Mitchell, senior author of the study and Distinguished Research Professor in the UGA Franklin College of Arts and Sciences department of microbiology.

Medical devices provide an appealing surface for microorganisms to latch onto, and once these biofilms form, they’re hard to break through.

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Image: Candida albicans, illustration. (Getty Images)