Clinical Outcomes of Patients Treated for Candida auris Infections in a Multisite Health System, Illinois, USA

Emerg Infect Dis. 2020 May;26(5):876-880. doi: 10.3201/eid2605.191588.

Abstract

Candida auris is an emerging fungal pathogen that is typically resistant to fluconazole and is known to cause healthcare-associated outbreaks. We retrospectively reviewed 28 patients who had >1 positive culture for C. auris within a multisite health system in Illinois, USA, during May 2018-April 2019. Twelve of these patients were treated as inpatients for C. auris infections; 10 (83%) met criteria for clinical success, defined as absence of all-cause mortality, C. auris recurrence, and infection-related readmission at 30 days from the first positive culture. The other 2 patients (17%) died within 30 days. Most patients (92%) were empirically treated with micafungin. Four (14%) of 28 total isolates were resistant to fluconazole, 1 (3.6%) was resistant to amphotericin B, and 1 (3.6%) was resistant to echinocandins. Our findings describe low rates of antifungal resistance and favorable clinical outcomes for most C. auris patients.

Keywords: BSI; CLABSI; Candida auris; Illinois; United States; antimicrobial resistance; bacteria; bacterial infections; candidemia; candidiasis; nosocomial infections; susceptibility.

MeSH terms

  • Antifungal Agents* / pharmacology
  • Antifungal Agents* / therapeutic use
  • Candidiasis, Invasive
  • Humans
  • Illinois / epidemiology
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Retrospective Studies

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents

Supplementary concepts

  • Candida auris infection