Candida Auris Cases Surge 60% in Europe, Greece Ranks Second

Greece has reported 852 Candida auris infections since 2013, placing it among the top five EU countries most affected by the drug-resistant fungus

19.09.2025 14:00

Newsroom

Candida Auris Cases Surge 60% in Europe, Greece Ranks Second

A patient speaks with a doctor inside a medical centre which has been set up by volunteers at the headquarters of the Athens Medical Association in Athens May 25, 2012. Greece's rundown state hospitals are cutting off vital drugs, limiting non-urgent operations and rationing even basic medical materials for exhausted doctors as a combination of economic crisis and political stalemate strangle health funding. With Greece now in its fifth year of deep recession, trapped under Europe's biggest public debt burden and dependent on international help to keep paying its bills, the effects are starting to bite deeply into vital services. Picture taken May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Yorgos Karahalis (GREECE - Tags: BUSINESS HEALTH SOCIETY) ATTENTION EDITORS: PICTURE 13 of 25 FOR PACKAGE 'GREEK HEALTH SYSTEM CRUMBLES'. SEARCH 'RUNDOWN STATE HOSPITALS' TO FIND ALL IMAGES - RTR33MS7

19.09.2025 14:00

Science

Newsroom

Greece has reported 852 Candida auris infections since 2013, placing it among the top five EU countries most affected by the drug-resistant fungus

The drug-resistant fungus Candidozyma auris (candida auris) is spreading rapidly across Europe, raising alarm in hospitals and intensive care units, including in Greece. Health experts warn that infections are difficult to control due to the pathogen’s ability to survive on surfaces and resist antifungal drugs and disinfectants.

Candidozyma auris thrives in warmer environments with high salt (unlike other candida species) and is thought to have emerged as a human pathogen due to global warming.

Europe Sees Sharp Increase

According to Matina Pagoni, vice president of the Federation of Hospital Doctors of Greece (OENGE), Candida auris is a hospital-acquired fungus and cases in Europe have surged by 60% in 2025. “We see it every year, but this year the increase is significant,” she told Greek television.

Between 2013 and 2023, 4,012 infections were recorded across EU and EEA member states. The five countries with the highest number of cases were:

Spain: 1,807 cases
Greece: 852 cases
Italy: 712 cases
Romania: 404 cases
Germany: 120 cases

This places Greece second in Europe for Candida auris infections, highlighting its vulnerability compared with other EU countries.

A Persistent and Resistant Threat

Candida auris poses a particular challenge in intensive care units (ICUs) and wards treating immunocompromised patients. The fungus can cause:

Bloodstream infections, spreading throughout the body
Wound infections
Urinary tract infections
Ear infections

Experts emphasize that hand hygiene remains the most effective preventive measure, recommending thorough washing before and after visiting hospitals.

Why It Matters

Candida auris is classified as a serious global health threat by health authorities due to its high resistance to treatment and ability to trigger outbreaks in healthcare facilities. Its rise in Greece and across Europe underscores the urgent need for stronger infection-control protocols and surveillance.