Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Candida Auris Blood Stream Infection

Abstract Purpose This study aims to comprehensively assess the clinical presentation, management practices, complications, and mortality rate in patients with Candida auris bloodstream infection. Patients and methods: This is a descriptive study where we retrospectively reviewed the electronic medical records of all patients admitted and diagnosed with C. auris bloodstream infection from January 2018 to August 2021. Results 156 patients diagnosed with Candida auris bloodstream infection (BSI) were included with an average age of 63 years old (SD ± 16.8), and 53% were male. The most frequently encountered comorbidities were diabetes mellitus and hypertension (76.28%), followed by end-stage renal disease receiving hemodialysis (39%) and cancer or receiving chemotherapy (19.2%). Most patients received broad-spectrum antibiotics and systemic corticosteroids 92% and 80%, respectively. The highest rate of resistance was shown for fluconazole (100%), followed by flucytosine (95.7%), voriconazole (93.3%), and itraconazole (83.3%). Resistance to amphotericin B, anidulafungin, and caspofungin were low, with a rate of (7.5%), (0%), and (5.4%), respectively. Conclusion Candida auris is an emerging progressive pathogen which notably increased in the last few years. This study showed the different characteristics and factors that could contribute to the increase in the number of Candida auris BSI.