A team of researchers led by the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto (FMUP) studied the first confirmed cases in Portugal of infection by Candida auris – a drug-resistant fungus considered a threat to global public health.
A study carried out by FMUP, whose results were recently published in Journal of Fungiallowed us to identify the first cases of Candida auris in Portugal.
“It is essential that institutions dedicated to teaching and research work together with hospitals and ULS [Unidades Locais de Saúde]towards integrated translational research, in order to reinforce the capacity to respond to emerging challenges in public health based on evidence”, he argues, in a statement sent this Tuesday to the Lusa agency, Sofia Costa de Oliveiraprofessor at FMUP who coordinated the study.
What is the Candida auris
A Candida auris is a yeast that can colonize the skin and cause infections invasive in patients with risk factors – such as serious illnesses, invasive treatments and use of antibiotics and immunosuppressants. Considered a threat to global public health, is widespread across several continentsreaching only around 60 countries.
O microorganism is not transmitted through the air, but through contact between patients, between healthcare professionals, or with contaminated surfaces and equipment.
This species is distinguished by resistance to multiple antifungal drugs and by ability to persist on surfaces and equipmentwhich can facilitate transmission in healthcare facilities.
In September last year, the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warned of the rapid spread of this drug-resistant fungus in hospitals and called for measures to stop its spread.
In a statement, the entity indicated that, between 2013 and 2023, more than 4,000 cases were registered in EU/EEA countries (including Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway), highlighting “a significant jump” in 2023, the year in which 1,346 cases were reported in 18 countries.
Cases in the North region
They were classified eight cases identified in 2023in a hospital in the North, in which it is safeguarded that “none of the three cases deaths of invasive infection reported was exclusively associated with the infectionbut rather the severe comorbidities of patients”.
Emphasizing that “It is important to understand that this fungus is spread in hospitals and not in the community”the coordinator states that “its relevance in public health is mainly associated with the ease of transmission in healthcare units and resistance to some antifungals, which justifies a reinforced surveillance (…), in order to try to control this global threat to health”.
“Early detection of colonization or infection in at-risk patients allows for more effective intervention and limits the spread in healthcare services. Infection control measures, such as Strict hand hygiene, disinfection of surfaces and equipment and laboratory surveillance are crucial to reduce transmission”, he concludes.
As Lusa highlights, the article resulted from research work that also brought together Isabel Mirandada FMUP e RISE-Health, Dolores Pinheiro, José Artur Paiva and João Tiago Guimarãesfrom FMUP and ULS São João, Micael Gonçalvesfrom CESAM, and Sandra Hiláriothat FCUP.
