Drug-resistant fungi pose growing health threat

When most of us think about infectious organisms, we tend to think of bacteria, viruses and maybe parasites like worms. Organism... [Click here to view this message in your web-browser](. Edition: US 20 November 2019 [The Conversation]( Academic rigor, journalistic flair [Support The Conversation during NewsMatch. Donations are doubled.]( [Bijal Trivedi] A note from... Bijal Trivedi Science and Technology Editor When most of us think about infectious organisms, we tend to think of bacteria, viruses and maybe parasites like worms. Organisms like fungi rarely enter our thoughts, except for maybe conditions like athlete’s foot. But last week, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released a frightening report about the drug-resistant microbes that pose a serious public health threat. And, for the first time, the report included several antibiotic-resistant fungi. University of Pittsburgh infectious disease physician and director of mycology Cornelius (Neil) Clancy has firsthand experience with these pathogens. More than a dozen of his patients have died from infections caused by drug-resistant fungi. Clancy explains how this major public health threat has emerged and some of the [challenges these pathogens pose to infections disease researchers like him]( Also today: - [An economist’s guide to tonight’s debates]( - [A humor researcher walks into a bar – and explains ‘intergroup sensitivity effect’]( - [Why kids should learn how the news media work]( Top story This is a medical illustration of an drug-resistant fungus, Aspergillus fumigatus. Stephanie Rossow/CDC [Why the CDC warns antibiotic-resistant fungal infections are an urgent health threat]( Cornelius (Neil) J. Clancy, University of Pittsburgh Mention fungi and most people think of eating mushrooms or yeasts in bread or beer. 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Today’s quote ["Students can be good fact-checkers only if they have a broader understanding of how news and information are produced and consumed in the digital age."]( [Beyond fact-checking: 5 things schools should do to foster news literacy]( Seth Ashley Boise State University [Seth Ashley] [Forward this email to your friends]( Ask them to sign up at [Follow us on Twitter.]( [Join us on Facebook.]( You’re receiving this newsletter from [The Conversation](. Not interested anymore? [Unsubscribe instantly](. We’ll miss you. 89 South Street - Suite 202 Boston, MA 02111