Portuguese researchers have identified the country’s first confirmed cases of infection with Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus considered a growing global public health threat.
The cases were detected in 2023 at a hospital in northern Portugal, where eight patients were identified as carrying or infected with the fungus. The findings, included in a study published in October 2025 in the Journal of Fungi by researchers from the Faculty of Medicine of the University of Porto, highlight the importance of early detection and strict hospital surveillance to prevent further spread.
According to the researchers, three patients died, but none of the deaths were attributed solely to Candida auris, with all affected patients suffering from severe underlying conditions.
Professor Sofia Costa de Oliveira, who coordinated the research, said that the fungus does not spread in the community but is transmitted mainly in healthcare settings, such as hospitals. “Its relevance to public health is mainly associated with how easily it is spread in hospitals and its resistance to some antifungal drugs, which justifies increased surveillance,” she said.
The study underlines that early identification of colonisation or infection in high-risk patients allows hospitals to act more effectively and limit transmission. Key measures include rigorous hand hygiene, thorough disinfection of equipment and surfaces, and continuous laboratory monitoring, Costa de Oliveira added.
Candida auris is a yeast capable of colonising the skin and causing serious invasive infections, particularly in patients with weakened immune systems, those undergoing invasive treatments or receiving antibiotics and immunosuppressive drugs. It is not airborne but spreads through direct contact or contaminated surfaces.
The fungus has now been reported in around 60 countries worldwide, with the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) warning last year of a sharp rise in cases across Europe. Between 2013 and 2023, more than 4,000 cases were reported in EU and EEA countries, with a significant increase recorded in 2023 alone.
Researchers say the next step is to better understand the genetic mutations linked to drug resistance, in order to improve treatment options and help contain what is increasingly seen as a global hospital-based health threat.
Source: LUSA
