Health officials in the UK are warning of a growing threat from a drug-resistant fungal infection that is spreading through communities. The strain, Trichophyton indotineae, has been linked to severe cases of ringworm affecting the groin, buttocks and upper thighs. Clinicians say the infection is increasingly difficult to treat with standard antifungal creams.
Recent data indicate the fungus is becoming more established in the UK. At the European Scientific Conference on Applied Infectious Disease Epidemiology (ESCAIDE), experts reported an increase from 44 known cases before 2022 to 258 by March 2025. Specialists say this pattern suggests sustained transmission within communities rather than isolated imported cases.
