Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 21, 2025
Author Spotlight: Oral Candida Diagnosis to Advance Clinical Treatment Regimen for pSS Patients
Published on: March 1, 2024
Candida auris in a tertiary healthcare setting in south India: A case series
Asem Ali Ashraf1, Rohan Steve Pinto2, Vimal Kumar Karnaker1
1Department of Microbiology, Nitte (Deemed to be University), KS Hegde Medical Academy (KSHEMA), Deralakatte, Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
Abstract:
Candida species can produce a variety of clinical manifestations, and several non-albicans species of Candida, including Candida auris, have been linked to the rise of invasive fungal infections with high rates of treatment failure. Nosocomial outbreaks and high mortality rates in healthcare institutions across the globe have been associated with C. auris, an emerging infectious yeast that was initially discovered in the ear canal of an elderly Japanese patient in 2009. The fact that C. auris has been found on six continents after it was initially isolated has raised serious concerns among scientists and healthcare practitioners. At present, healthcare facilities lack defined protocols for the effective prevention and control of C. auris infections, as well as appropriate treatment alternatives. This leads to frequent therapeutic failures and complicates the eradication of C. auris infection in healthcare facilities. Studies on C. auris in South India are often limited, and healthcare workers urgently need to be made aware of infections caused by it in order to assess its impact and possible implications for the healthcare system. This study aimed to report seven patients hospitalized in our center who developed C. auris infections with varying clinical manifestations.
Insights
Candida auris, an emerging yeast, causes difficult-to-treat invasive fungal infections globally. This study highlights seven cases in South India, emphasizing the need for increased awareness and control measures for Candida auris.
Area of Science:
- Medical Mycology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Emerging infectious yeast Candida auris (C. auris) is associated with invasive fungal infections, high mortality rates, and treatment failures.
- C. auris outbreaks have been reported globally, raising significant concerns among healthcare professionals.
- Limited data exists on C. auris in South India, necessitating increased awareness among healthcare workers.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report seven cases of Candida auris infections in hospitalized patients.
- To describe the clinical manifestations of C. auris infections in the South Indian context.
- To underscore the need for improved surveillance and management strategies for C. auris.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective case series.
- Analysis of clinical data from seven hospitalized patients diagnosed with C. auris infection.
- Review of clinical manifestations and treatment outcomes.
Main Results:
- Seven patients with C. auris infection were identified and analyzed.
- The study documented diverse clinical presentations associated with C. auris.
- Findings highlight the presence and impact of C. auris in a South Indian healthcare setting.
Conclusions:
- Candida auris infections pose a growing threat, requiring urgent attention in South India.
- Enhanced awareness and standardized protocols are crucial for controlling C. auris outbreaks.
- Further research is needed to understand the epidemiology and optimize treatment for C. auris.
Related Concept Videos
01:26Healthcare Associated Infections I: Iatrogenic, Exogenic and Endogenic
HAIs significantly increase the cost of health care. Extended stays in healthcare institutions, increased disability, increased costs of medications, including specialized antibiotics, and prolonged recovery times add to the patient's expenses and the healthcare institution and funding bodies.
01:22Healthcare Associated Infections II: Preventive Measures
The best practices for preventing healthcare-associated infections include hand hygiene, patient risk...
01:21Tertiary Healthcare System
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...