Candida auris, clinical

Greece ranks second in the EU in the number of patients infected with the Candida auris fungus, an infection that can cause serious illness and spread rapidly in hospitals or long-term care facilities, according to a new report by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), released on Thursday.

During an ECDC team visit to Greece in April 2024, it was found that the fungus had spread throughout the healthcare system.

Candida auris is often resistant to antifungal drugs and affects severely ill patients. According to the report, Greece has recorded 852 cases in the last decade, ranking second in Europe behind only Spain.

Diamantis Plachouras, deputy head of the ECDC's Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections Unit, says that it is scientifically do...
Read More: https://www.ekathimerini.com/in-depth/society-in-depth/1280557/greece-second-in-eu-for-fungus-infections/

With neighbouring Germany battling one of its largest Candida auris outbreaks, Luxembourg's health authorities say vigilance remains high even without national guidelines tailored to the pathogen.

Candida auris infections have skyrocketed across Europe, with cases rising from 804 to 1,346 between 2022 and 2023 alone. The pathogenic yeast - which carries an estimated mortality rate ranging from 29% and 62% - was first reported on EU territory in 2014 and has continued to spread ever since.

Neighbouring countries Germany, France, and Belgium reported 77, 10 and six cases respectively in 2023, and just this week, Tagesspiegel reported Germany's second-biggest outbreak at Berlin's Charité hospital and German media are warning of its dangers.

Despite increasing infection numbers, the Europea...
Read More: https://today.rtl.lu/news/luxembourg/a/2338068.html

A group of scientists has raised the alarm about a drug-resistant strain of a common fungus, labelling it a 'global health threat'. Candida auris (C. Auris) is a yeast that can cause severe illness and is easily transmitted among critically ill patients in healthcare settings. The severity of the infection can range from a mild skin condition to life-threatening complications such as bloodstream infections. Alarmingly, C. Auris often exhibits resistance to antifungal medications, which means the fungus can overcome the drugs intended to eliminate it. This resistance can render medical treatments ineffective. Each year, nearly 6.5 million people globally are affected by fungal infections, reports Surrey Live. The challenge in treating these infections can lead to a mortality rate exceeding ...
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Scientists are warning that a dangerous, drug-resistant fungus already entrenched in U.S. hospitals is becoming more formidable across the globe, even as new research points to possible breakthroughs in treatment. Candida auris, commonly referred to as C. auris, has expanded rapidly worldwide and i... Source: matzav.com - Read Full Article