Candida auris: What You Need to Know

When working with Candida auris, a multidrug‑resistant yeast that can cause serious bloodstream infections. Also known as C. auris, it thrives in hospitals and can survive on surfaces for weeks, making it a unique public‑health challenge.

One of the closest companions of Candida auris is Candidemia, a bloodstream infection caused by any Candida species. While Candidemia has been around for decades, the rise of antifungal resistance, the ability of fungi to survive standard drug regimens turns a routine infection into a life‑threatening event. Hospitals fight back with strict infection control, practices like hand hygiene, environmental cleaning, and patient isolation measures that can curb the spread of this pathogen. Understanding how these three entities interact—Candida auris causes invasive disease, resistance limits treatment options, and infection control blocks transmission—helps clinicians make faster, safer decisions.

Practical takeaways for clinicians and patients

The first step is early detection. Labs now use MALDI‑TOF mass spectrometry or specialized PCR tests to identify Candida auris quickly; delayed identification often leads to broader outbreaks. Once confirmed, treatment usually starts with an echinocandin, but susceptibility testing is essential because resistance patterns vary by region. For hospitals, regular surface cultures and cohorting of colonized patients reduce environmental load, while education of staff on proper glove and gown use limits accidental transmission. Patients should be aware that prior fluconazole exposure, long‑term catheter use, and recent ICU stays increase the odds of acquiring this yeast.

Below you’ll find a curated list of articles that dig deeper into each of these aspects—ranging from diagnostic tools to real‑world infection‑control stories. Whether you’re a nurse, infectious‑disease specialist, or just curious about the latest on this emerging threat, the posts ahead give actionable insights you can apply right away.