Candida auris – epidemiology and laboratory diagnostics of infections

Abstract

Human infections caused by a new species of a yeast-like fungus of the genus <I>Candida – C. auris </I>– have been described in recent years worldwide. In a short period of time it has spread in several countries on 5 continents. <I>C. auris</I> – in contrast to other Candida species – shows a significant epidemic potential, spreading easily among hospitalised patients. It causes invasive infections with a relatively severe clinical course and high mortality (30 – 72%).<br>Emergence of <I>C. auris</I> poses a serious challenge for laboratory diagnosticians, as this species is usually misidentified or not identified by microbial identification systems commonly used in clinical diagnostic laboratories in Poland and worldwide. At present it is emphasised that a proper identification of <I>C. auris</I> may be obtained only by mass spectrometry or molecular techniques. Laboratory diagnosticians must therefore be aware of this new threat, as improper identification of C. auris may cause a delay in administration of an effective antifungal therapy as well as to the spread of this pathogen within the medical facility due to the lack of implementation of the patient’s isolation (colonised or infected) and other infection control procedures.