Risk Factors for Mortality in Candida auris Bloodstream Infection: A Multicenter Study in South Korea, 2018-2025

Candida auris (C. auris) is a multidrug-resistant pathogen that spreads clonally in healthcare settings and was designated an urgent threat by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in 2019. We conducted a multicenter study to identify mortality risk factors in C. auris bloodstream infection (BSI) in South Korea. In this retrospective cohort study across three tertiary centers, 50 adults with first-episode C. auris BSI were analyzed. Primary and secondary outcomes were 30- and 90-day mortality. 30-day mortality was 24%, and 90-day mortality was 46%. Older age and higher Sequential Organ Failure Assessment score were independently associated with 30-day mortality. Microbiologic clearance within 30 days was protective. For 90-day mortality, older age was the only independent risk factor, and microbiologic clearance within 90 days was also protective. In conclusion, C. auris BSI causes substantial 30-day mortality, underscoring the need for risk-stratified, clearance-focused management.