UKHSA Issues Warning on Deadly Fungus Candidozyma auris Posing Significant Health Threat

Health authorities have raised alarm over Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris), a deadly fungus that presents a significant risk to human health. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) highlights that this fungus, although recently identified, is spreading globally and poses particular dangers in hospital settings.

Candidozyma auris was first discovered in 2009 in the ear of a patient in Japan. Since then, it has been detected in over 40 countries across six continents. This resilient microorganism can silently spread in healthcare environments, surviving on surfaces for extended periods and often resisting common medical treatments and disinfectants.

While it rarely infects healthy individuals, C. auris is a serious threat to hospitalized patients, especially those with weakened immune systems, prolonged hospital stays, or critical illnesses. The fungus has caused several outbreaks in healthcare facilities in England, with under 700 cases reported to date.

The UKHSA emphasizes the fungus’s ability to colonize human skin without immediate symptoms, meaning carriers can unknowingly spread it. Infection can occur if the fungus enters the body through wounds or medical devices such as catheters and drips. It is frequently found on hospital items and equipment, from bedside gear to medical instruments like blood pressure cuffs and stethoscopes.

Infections caused by C. auris vary widely, ranging from asymptomatic colonization to severe disease affecting the bloodstream, brain, spine, bones, abdomen, respiratory tract, urinary system, and wounds. The risk of developing infection and transmitting the fungus increases the longer someone carries it.

To combat this growing health threat, the UKHSA is partnering with the NHS and other organizations to monitor cases closely, implement rigorous hygiene and infection control measures, and research effective treatments. Key preventative steps include thorough cleaning of healthcare environments, strict hygiene protocols, ongoing surveillance, and awareness within medical settings.

As C. auris continues to spread globally, vigilance and proactive infection control are critical to minimizing its impact and protecting vulnerable patients in hospitals.