A highly drug-resistant fungus, Candida auris (C. auris), is spreading globally and causing concern among experts. First detected in 2009, this superbug can adhere to skin and cause severe infections, particularly in individuals with compromised immune systems, and has led to outbreaks in healthcare settings. The World Health Organization (WHO) identified it as a concerning pathogen in 2022.
Originating in Japan, C. auris has since spread to at least 61 countries across six continents. It has been a significant public health concern in India and has recently caused alarm in the USA, infecting approximately 7,000 people across 27 states, according to the CDC. In England, C. auris has been detected in hospitals, especially following the COVID-19 pandemic, with significant healthcare-associated outbreaks reported in London and the South-East. Invasive infections with C. auris are associated with high mortality rates, and the fungus has developed resistance to multiple antifungal medications, including first-line treatments, with some strains resistant to all available antifungals.