FASTER, PLEASE: New antifungal drug combats deadly microscopic yeast. “Microscopic yeast are a menace in hospitals. The fungi can grow in the nooks and crannies of medical equipment and hospital surfaces and can cause infections in patients with weakened immune systems. For some, an infection can prove fatal. Candida auris is one of the most problematic species, as it has developed resistance to multiple antifungal drugs. Current antifungals attack yeast by puncturing the cell membranes or by blocking sterol production. The new drug works by blocking vital proteins from attaching to the yeast cell wall. In doing so, the antifungal compound disrupts the yeast’s growth process and prevents the formation of drug-resistant fungal communities.”