The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has warned that Drug -resistant fungus ‘Candidzyma Auris’ (‘C. auris’) continues to spread rapidly in The hospitals Europeans, representing a serious threat to health, so it has urged countries to take urgent measures.
This has been confirmed by the latest ECDC survey on the epidemiological situation of ‘C. Auris’ and laboratory capacity and preparation against itwhich reveals the increase in the number of cases and the escalation of outbreaks, together with a continuous local transmission in several countries.
As detailed by the European agency in a statement, ‘Candidzyma Auris’ is A fungus that usually spread in health centersIt is usually resistant to antifungals and can cause serious infections in severe patients. Its ability to persist on different medical surfaces and equipment, as well as to spread among patients, especially hinders their control.
Between 2013 and 2023, the countries of the European Union and/or the European Economic Space (EU/EEE They notified a total of 4,012 cases of infection by ‘C. Auris’with a significant increase up to 1,346 cases notified by 18 countries only in 2023. Specifically, Spain (1.807), Greece (852), Italy (712), Romania (404) and Germany (120) concentrated most cases during the decade.
Recently, shoots have been notified Cyprus, France and Germany, while Greece, Italy, Romania and Spain They have reported that they can no longer distinguish specific outbreaks due to the broad regional or national propagation. In several of these countries, the sustained local transmission has occurred in just a few years after the first documented case, which highlights a critical period for early interventions aimed at stopping its propagation.
Early detection and coordinated control
“C. Auris’ It has spread in just a few yearsfrom isolated cases to a generalized propagation in some countries. This demonstrates the speed with which it can be established in hospitals, “said the head of the antimicrobial resistance section and infections associated with the medical care of the ECDC, Diamantis Plouras.
Even so, Plate He stressed that this can still be prevented from a greater generalized transmission as long as measures are taken to promote early detection and rapid and coordinated infections control.
While some countries have shown positive results in the limitation of outbreaks of ‘C. Auris’, Many face key deficiencies. Despite the increase in the number of cases, the ECDC has pointed out that only 17 of the 36 countries participating in the survey currently have a national surveillance system for this fungus.
In this line, Only 15 countries have developed specific national guidelines for the prevention and control of infections. For its part, the laboratory capacity is comparatively higher, with 29 countries that have access to a reference laboratory or mycology expert and 23 that offer reference tests for hospitals.
“While the number of infections for ‘C. Auris’ is clearly increasing, without systematic surveillance and mandatory notification, The true magnitude of the problem is likely not to be disseminated“The statement ends.
