Candida auris (C. auris) poses a significant challenge in infection prevention and control. This fungal pathogen has been identified as a major concern within healthcare settings, urging the need for regular and stringent surveillance. This article presents an in-depth analysis of a retrospective study carried out in a tertiary care hospital in China, aiming to evaluate the antifungal susceptibility profiles of C. auris and identify the risk factors associated with C. auris infections in hospitalized patients. The acquisition of these insights is crucial in crafting effective infection control strategies that will prevent in-hospital transmission.
Between January 1, 2022, and March 31, 2025, the study monitored newly identified Candida isolates and compared the clinical characteristics of patients with C. auris infections to those infected by other Candida species. The study revealed an upward trend in the number of newly identified C. auris infections during the observation period. C. auris demonstrated a relatively high rate of resistance to fluconazole (77.42%) and a lower resistance to amphotericin B (3.23%).
Moreover, patients afflicted with a C. auris infection showed a significantly longer median hospital stay and a notably elevated mortality rate than those infected with other Candida species. Through multivariable regression analysis, various factors were identified as being significantly associated with the risk of Candida infections. These factors included intensive care unit admission, hypertension, immunosuppressive conditions, and the presence of indwelling medical devices.
Given these findings, healthcare professionals, especially those working in infection prevention, are urged to maintain vigilant surveillance focused on fluconazole-resistant C. auris. The stringent implementation of infection prevention and control measures is paramount to curbing its spread and reducing its impact within healthcare settings. The rise in C. auris cases and associated resistance highlights the complexity of the situation, emphasizing the need for coordinated interdisciplinary actions, robust infection control strategies, and continuous surveillance.