Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris Infections in Healthcare Settings

Candida auris has emerged over the last decade as a formidable nosocomial pathogen, distinguished by its capacity to resist multiple antifungal agents and to persist in healthcare environments. First identified in 2009, this yeast now poses global challenges owing to its propensity for bloodstream infection (candidemia), colonisation of skin and mucosal surfaces, and formation of resilient biofilms on indwelling devices and fomites. Genomic studies reveal several distinct clades, each associated with particular geographical regions and characteristic resistance mechanisms, notably mutations in the ERG11 gene. Misidentification by conventional laboratory platforms frequently delays appropriate therapy, while the organism’s environmental tenacity undermines routine disinfection protocols. High crude mortality rates, often exceeding 30% in invasive cases, underscore the urgent need for robust surveillance, rapid diagnostic tools, stringent infection‐control measures and novel antifungal strategies. Interdisciplinary collaborations between microbiology laboratories, infection‐prevention teams and clinical services are critical to contain outbreaks and to mitigate the threat posed by this multidrug‐resistant fungus.

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Multidrug-Resistant Candida auris Infections in Healthcare Settings publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in multidrug-resistant candida auris infections in healthcare settings across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Multidrug resistance: The capacity of an organism to withstand treatment by multiple antifungal agents.

Biofilm: A structured community of microbial cells enclosed in a self-produced matrix adhering to surfaces.

Candidemia: The presence of Candida species in the bloodstream, often leading to severe systemic infection.

Clade: A genetically distinct group of organisms sharing a common ancestor, as defined by phylogenomic analysis.

Lateral flow immunoassay: A rapid diagnostic test that uses antigen–antibody reactions to detect pathogens on a test strip.

References

1. First report of Candida auris in Guangdong, China: clinical and microbiological characteristics of 7 episodes of candidemia. Emerging Microbes & Infections (2024).
2. Candida auris Outbreak in a Multidisciplinary Hospital in Romania during the Post-Pandemic Era: Potential Solutions and Challenges in Surveillance and Epidemiological Control. Antibiotics (2024).
3. A lateral flow immunoassay for the rapid identification of Candida auris from isolates or directly from surveillance enrichment broths. Frontiers in Microbiology (2024).