In recent months, hospitals in Spain and other European countries have observed a worrying trend: an increasing number of patients are being diagnosed with infections caused by the yeast fungus Candidozyma auris. This microorganism poses a particular threat to people with weakened immune systems and can spread rapidly in hospital settings.
Over the decade from 2013 to 2023, more than four thousand cases of infection or carriage of this fungus have been reported in the countries of the European Union and the European Economic Area. Last year alone, more than 1,300 new cases were detected in 18 European countries. Spain, along with Greece, Italy, Romania, and Germany, is among the leaders in the number of infections.
Of particular concern is the fact that Candidozyma auris is resistant to most antifungal drugs. This complicates treatment and increases the risk of fatal outcomes, which, according to experts, can reach 62% in cases where candidemia (fungus entering the bloodstream) develops. Outbreaks were recently reported in France, Germany, and Cyprus, indicating the pathogen continues to spread across Europe.
The fungus was first described in 2009 and has since gained a reputation as one of the most dangerous hospital-acquired infectious agents. The World Health Organization has already included it in the list of pathogens posing a critical threat to health. Doctors emphasize that special attention should be given to prevention and monitoring of the infection’s spread in medical facilities, in order to prevent new outbreaks and reduce patient mortality.
