<i>Candida auris</i>: Epidemiology and Antifungal Strategy.

Abstract

<i>Candida auris</i> is a recently emerged fungal pathogen that causes severe infections in healthcare settings around the globe. A feature that distinguishes <i>C. auris</i> from other fungal pathogens is its high capacity to colonize skin, leading to widespread outbreaks in healthcare facilities via patient-to-patient transmission. <i>C. auris</i> can persist on skin or in the surrounding environment for extended periods of time, and it exhibits greater antifungal resistance than other <i>Candida</i> species. These factors pose major obstacles for the prevention and treatment of <i>C. auris</i> infection. Recent reports have identified frequently colonized skin sites, risk factors for developing invasive infection, and patterns of antifungal resistance among <i>C. auris</i> strains, all of which help guide therapeutic options. In this review, we highlight key studies of <i>C. auris</i> epidemiology and antifungal resistance, discussing how these factors influence healthcare-associated transmission and treatment outcomes.