Episode 66 - Diamantis Plachouras - The Silent Spread - Europe’s C. auris Challenge

ECDC: On Air

In this episode of ECDC On Air , we talk to ECDC's Head of Section - Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare-Associated Infections - Dr Diamantis Plachouras, who explains the rising threat of the drug-resistant fungus Candidozyma (Candida) auris.

Discovered only in 2009, C. auris has become a serious problem in European hospitals - spreading between patients, persisting on surfaces and equipment, and resisting multiple antifungal treatments.

Diamantis outlines how infections develop, why treatment is so difficult, and what the latest ECDC survey shows: over 4,000 EU/EEA cases since 2013, including 1,346 in 2023 alone, with several countries already facing regional or national endemicity.

He also shares why early detection, infection prevention and control, and timely communication between hospitals are key to stopping outbreaks - and why success is still possible.

🎧 Tune in for a clear look at one of Europe’s most urgent patient safety concerns.

Interested in the topic? Check more on C. auris here.

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