Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentWhy Is Candida auris Dangerous?Prevention
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Why Is Candida auris Dangerous?
Prevention
First recognized in 2009,Candida aurisis a yeast (a fungus) that can lead tocandidiasis, a dangerous and potentially lethal disease.Candida aurissymptoms may include fever, chills, and pain depending on what part of the body is affected.
This fungus becomes especially problematic when it enters the bloodstream and spreads throughout the body. Not only is this condition hard to detect, but it also leads to infections as it spreads.
Verywell / Laura Porter
What Are the Symptoms of Candida auris?
The symptoms ofCandida aurisinfection—called candidiasis—depend on what part of the body is affected. Further complicating matters is the fact that since the disease most often arises in clinical environments and in patients who are already suffering from other conditions, signs can easily be missed.
Antifungal Resistance
A characteristic ofCandida aurisinfection is that standard antifungal medications are sometimes completely ineffective or work poorly.
Antifungal resistance is an ongoing issue that can develop over time with the general use of antifungal medications. Plus, fungicides that kill and prevent fungus in agriculture may also contribute to resistance in those exposed to the fungicides.
Ear Infection
Wound Infection
Blood Infection
Urine samples have also been found withCandida auris, though it’s unclear how much of a risk there is of bladder infection.
Untreated cases ofCandida aurisinfection can lead to coma, and more than one-third of serious infections that are in the bloodstream and/or affect the brain or heart lead to death.
What Are the Causes?
Spores of this fungus can reside within clinical equipment and on surfaces in hospitals, becoming especially dangerous if they’re present in tubes and catheters used in medical procedures.
While it’s generally harmless if present on closed skin, problems arise if there’s a wound or contact with the bloodstream. Infections often occur in those who are hospitalized with other health conditions.
While the rise in cases over the last couple of years is alarming, it’s important to note thatCandida aurisinfection is rare. Most healthy adults, for instance, are unlikely to contract candidiasis.
Risk FactorsAlthough the data is limited, the risk factors forCandida aurisinfections appear to be similar to risk factors for other types of Candida infections, including recent surgery, diabetes, and broad-spectrum antibiotic and antifungal use.
Risk Factors
Although the data is limited, the risk factors forCandida aurisinfections appear to be similar to risk factors for other types of Candida infections, including recent surgery, diabetes, and broad-spectrum antibiotic and antifungal use.
How Is Candida auris Diagnosed?
Similar to bacterial infections, detection ofCandida aurisrequires blood tests as well as those of other bodily fluids. While there are a number of these tests, the problem with detecting this pathogen is that it’s very similar to others of the same family and can be misdiagnosed; a quick diagnosis is rarely possible.
According to the CDC, a category of tests is likely the most effective: matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF).However, researchers and healthcare providers note that more accurate testing is needed.
How Is It Treated?
The biggest obstacle when it comes to treating these fungal infections is that they can be very resistant to antifungal medication.
A class of antifungals calledechinocandinscan treat most infections and is recommended as the initial treatment.These include:
However, someCandida aurisinfections are resistant to all the main classes of antifungals, and multiple antifungals at high doses may be needed. A healthcare provider experienced in treating difficult fungal infections should be involved in this treatment plan, according to the CDC.
Antifungal susceptibility tests can be done in the lab to help guide a selection of medications. It can test the concentration of a drug needed to effectively treat a strain of the fungus.
BecauseCandida auriscan develop resistance quickly, patients receiving antifungal therapy should be monitored carefully with follow-up blood tests.
AlthoughCandida auriswas just discovered in 2009, it has spread quickly, especially in hospitals and nursing homes, in the U.S. and globally. What makes it so dangerous is that Candida Auris causes serious infections, is difficult to identify, and is resistant to antifungal medicines typically used to treat it.
Based on information from a limited number of patients, 30%–60% of people withCandida aurisinfections have died. However, many of these people had other serious illnesses that also increased their risk of death.
How to Prevent Candida auris
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is working with public health partners, healthcare personnel, and laboratories to prevent and stop the spread ofCandida aurisin healthcare settings.
For prevention and control ofCandida auris, the CDC recommends the following:
Summary
Not only is it important to keep an eye on hygiene, but you should also let your healthcare provider know if you suspect you have symptoms or if something seems off. Prognosis improves a great deal with earlier diagnosis. While there’s more to learn about this condition, it has caught the attention of public health officials and healthcare providers, which helps with prompt testing and early intervention and may lead to better treatments in the future.
7 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TrackingC. auris.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candida auris: a drug-resistant germ that spreads in healthcare facilities.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing the spread ofC. auris.Centers of Disease Control.Screening forC. auris.UpToDate.Antifungal susceptibility testing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infection control guidance:Candida auris.Additional ReadingShmerling R.The latest deadly superbug, and why it’s not time to panic. Harvard Health Blog.
7 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TrackingC. auris.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candida auris: a drug-resistant germ that spreads in healthcare facilities.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing the spread ofC. auris.Centers of Disease Control.Screening forC. auris.UpToDate.Antifungal susceptibility testing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infection control guidance:Candida auris.Additional ReadingShmerling R.The latest deadly superbug, and why it’s not time to panic. Harvard Health Blog.
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TrackingC. auris.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candida auris: a drug-resistant germ that spreads in healthcare facilities.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing the spread ofC. auris.Centers of Disease Control.Screening forC. auris.UpToDate.Antifungal susceptibility testing.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infection control guidance:Candida auris.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.TrackingC. auris.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Antimicrobial-resistant fungal diseases.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Candida auris: a drug-resistant germ that spreads in healthcare facilities.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Preventing the spread ofC. auris.
Centers of Disease Control.Screening forC. auris.
UpToDate.Antifungal susceptibility testing.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Infection control guidance:Candida auris.
Shmerling R.The latest deadly superbug, and why it’s not time to panic. Harvard Health Blog.
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
