Over 200 patients in England infected by Japanese fungus

As of July, 20 separate NHS trusts and independent hospitals in the UK had detected Candida auris, and more than 35 other hospitals had patients known to be colonised with the fungus transferred to them.

Hospitals are looking out for further cases of the drug-resistant fungus first found in Japan, and are putting measures in place to help control any further spread of it.

Candida auris is difficult to stop from spreading because it has developed some resistance to the drug doctors normally use to combat it.

Public Health England says in some cases patients will have no symptoms, but the infection can cause serious bloodstream and wound infections. So far, no one in the UK has died from it.

The first UK case emerged in 2013. Since then, the infection rates have been increasing.

Three hospitals have seen outbreaks that have been difficult to control, despite intensive infection prevention and control measures. These outbreaks, however, have now been declared over, Public Health England (PHE) says.

Dr Colin Brown, from PHE’s national infection service, said most UK cases had been detected via screening rather than investigations. But nearly 30 patients have developed bloodstream infections.

He said: “Our enhanced surveillance shows a low risk to patients in healthcare settings. Most cases detected have not shown symptoms or developed an infection as a result of the fungus.

"NHS hospitals that have experienced outbreaks of Candida auris have not found it to be the cause of death in any patients."