AN OUTBREAK of a potentially deadly infection was halted at the John Radcliffe Hospital thanks to a scientific breakthrough by Oxford scientists.

Researchers at Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) used genetic sequencing to isolate and identify the source of a Candida auris (C. auris) outbreak between 2015 and 2017.

Multi-use thermometers were found to be responsible, with the nurses then ditching the equipment at the Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and stopping the spread of the harmful fungus.

It is the first time an outbreak of C. auris has been completely ended with a clear understanding of the cause.

Lead investigator, Dr David Eyre, research fellow in Infectious Diseases at the Big Data Institute, said: “It is very pleasing that our research has led to the C. auris outbreak being stopped.

"There are a number of hospitals in the UK and around the world that have been unable to halt their outbreaks.

"Working out how it is transmitted should help to contain its spread worldwide.

“Such is the nature of this pathogen that we must remain vigilant, and we’re delighted that, since we changed our approach as a result of our findings, we have had no further cases.”

The study, conducted by infection, prevention teams from Oxford University Hospitals and Oxford University, was published this month by the New England Journal of Medicine.

Antimicrobial resistance theme lead at the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, professor Derrick Crook, said the study will now feed directly into healthcare guidelines regarding the use of multi-use equipment, and in particular the decontamination of this equipment in the event of future outbreaks.