Risk Factors and Outcomes for Invasive Infection Among Patients Colonized with Candidozyma auris: A Case-Control...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Clinical Microbiology
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Candida auris is a global multidrug-resistant pathogen with high colonization rates.
• Limited understanding exists regarding the transition from colonization to invasive infection and associated outcomes.
• This study investigates risk factors for C. auris infection progression in colonized patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe characteristics and outcomes of C. auris-colonized patients.
• To identify risk factors predicting progression from colonization to infection.
• To analyze factors associated with mortality in C. auris-infected patients.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case-control study at a single tertiary care center (2018-2024).
• Compared demographics, comorbidities, device use, and prior antimicrobial exposure between colonized and infected patients.
• Multivariate analysis identified independent predictors of infection progression.

Main Results:

• Of 334 colonized patients, 13.2% progressed to infection.
• Infection group had higher comorbidity index, central line, mechanical ventilation, parenteral nutrition, and abdominal surgery rates.
• Abdominal surgery was the sole independent predictor of infection (OR 4.08).
• In-hospital mortality was significantly higher in the infection group (65.9% vs. 33.1%).

Conclusions:

• Approximately one in eight C. auris-colonized patients progressed to infection.
• Recent abdominal surgery independently predicted progression to C. auris infection.
• C. auris infection is associated with increased mortality and prolonged hospitalization, necessitating targeted prevention strategies.