Clinical implications in patients with isolation of Candidozyma auris in a single tertiary hospital

Candidozyma auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant pathogen, posing challenges for infection control and management. The annual trend of C. auris isolation and its clinical implications for affected patients were accessed.

All adult patients with C. auris isolated from clinical specimens between 2022 and 2024 were included. The medical records of all the patients were retrospectively investigated.

The first case of C. auris infection was reported in 2022. C. auris isolates increased from one in 2022 and 2023 to 23 in 2024. The clade analysis performed on available blood culture isolates (n = 6) confirmed that all analyzed isolates belonged to clade I. All patients had underlying conditions, and 20 patients (80%) had recent intensive care unit admissions. Urine was the most common source of C. auris (14 cases [56%]), followed by blood (six cases [24%]). Of the five patients with C. auris bloodstream infections and central venous catheters (CVCs), three had confirmed to have definite central line-related bloodstream infections (CRBSIs), while the remaining two had no other identifiable primary source besides the CVC. Among patients with C. auris in urine, one of 14 (7.1%) developed septic shock, compared with two of six (33.3%) with bloodstream isolates. The 14- and 30-day mortality rates were 24% (6/25) and 32% (8/25), respectively. The mortality rate attributable to C. auris isolation was 8% (2/25). The two deceased patients had CRBSI caused by C. auris.

All C. auris isolates identified from blood cultures belonged to clade I. The isolation rate of C. auris is showing an increasing trend. Bloodstream infections caused by C. auris predominantly occurred in patients with CVCs and were associated with higher attributable mortality.