The new infection causing serious illness as people say ‘it’s the worst I’ve had’

Health authorities have identified a new form of infection across the UK that is causing illness – with certain patients needing hospital care. The Candidozyma auris represents a type of yeast which has ‘only recently been discovered’.

In a statement released this morning, the UK Health Security Agency confirmed it has been detected ‘in patients at a number of hospitals in England’. Medical professionals explain that Candidozyma belongs to a group of yeasts that naturally occur on the skin and inside the human body.

However, if it penetrates the bloodstream, particularly in hospitalised patients, it can spark a serious infection across the body – and may remain within a person for years.

This organism was first identified from someone’s ear in Japan in 2009 but has subsequently been recorded in over 40 countries. It can spread through direct contact with the organism – which may be present on infected people or contaminated surfaces.

The UKHSA stated: “Some people can carry C. auris without developing any symptoms.

“This is known as colonisation and means that you are carrying C. auris somewhere on your body, such as your skin, but it has not caused an infection. People who are carrying C. auris do not need to be treated for this, as it is not harmful.

“However, there are certain actions they should take to reduce the risk of spreading it to other people in healthcare settings (see ‘If you are carrying C. auris’ section below.

“If someone who is carrying C. auris is admitted to hospital, or it spreads to someone else in hospital, there is a risk it may enter their body or bloodstream, for example, during an operation or if they have a catheter or drip inserted.

“This could then cause a C. auris infection. C. auris infections vary in how serious they are.”

The UKHSA revealed that the C. auris infection is chiefly being monitored amongst hospital patients, with numerous individuals potentially unaware they are carriers.

It revealed: “C. auris mainly spreads by touch, for example, by touching a surface or an object that has got C. auris on it or having close contact with someone who is carrying or is infected with C. auris. C. auris is difficult to completely remove from the environment, and it is easy to pick up from bed linen, equipment or other people’s hands.

“Currently, most people who will be tested for C. auris are either already in hospital as a patient or are being admitted to hospital.”