The European Center for the Prevention and Control of Diseases (ECDC) launches the Auris Candida alarm. Isolated for the first time in 2009 in Japan with a woman’s ear, this mushroom is known to be resistant to many antifungals and for having become a constant danger in hospital areas. In a report published yesterday, the ECDC defines Candida Auris “a risk for patients in healthcare structures throughout Europe due to its ability to cause serious infections in critical patients, its potential resistance to different antifungal agents that makes infections difficult to treat, and its propensity for transmission and epidemics in the health sector”.
Italy is among the most affected countries: the numbers (and the table)
The ability of the mushroom to persist on different surfaces and medical equipment and to spread among patients makes control of them particularly difficult. In the report it is highlighted that between 2013 and 2023 Candidazyma Auris recorded over 4 thousand cases in the countries of the European economic space with a significant increase in 2023 when 1,346 cases were reported in just one year. Italy is among the 5 most affected countries, which have represented most of the cases in the decade, together with Spain, Greece, Romania and Germany. To be precise, the third country is for the number of reports.
The new Killer mushroom epidemic exploded during Covid’s pandemic
In detail, the investigation has also involved the countries of the Western Balkans and Turkey in addition to the EU area. As regards the distribution of cases reported within the decade monitored, it emerges that the country with the highest data is Spain (1,807 cases), followed by Greece (852), Italy (712), Romania (404) and Germany (120). The peak was observed in 2023: the 1,346 cases recorded by the 18 European countries is in fact “the highest number since C. Auris was reported for the first time in Europe” in 2014.
The ECDC denounces gaps in surveillance and defines the “underestimated” problem
“Although some countries have shown positive results in limiting C. Auris’ epidemics, many face serious gaps” observes the ECDC in the note. And “despite the increase in the number of cases, only 17 of the 36 countries participating in the survey currently have a national surveillance system for C. Auris”. In addition, “only 15 countries have developed specific national guidelines for the prevention and control of infections”. The laboratory capacity is for the agency based in Stockholm “relatively more solid”: 29 countries report access to a reference laboratory or specialized in mycology and 23 offer reference tests for hospitals.
“Although the number of infections from C. Auris is clearly increasing, in the absence of systematic surveillance and a mandatory report, the real scope of the problem is probably underestimated”, warns the ECDC which is regularly evaluating the epidemiological situation with these investigations started from 2018 and with rapid risk assessments. Objective: “Support Member States in improving their preparation and timely response capabilities, to prevent or promptly contain C. Auris epidemics and prevent their further transmission”.