What is candida auris infection?

Candida auris (also called C. auris) is a fungus in the yeast family that can cause an infection in blood, tissues, or wounds.

The infection can be serious and even fatal. It's hard to treat because commonly used antifungal medicines often don't work.

C. auris is most often found in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) of hospitals. It mostly affects people who already have one or more serious illnesses or a weakened immune system or who have frequent stays in a hospital, ICU, or nursing home.

Some people carry C. auris on their skin, but they don't get sick. But they can pass the fungus to others who are more likely to get a serious infection.

C. auris spreads from one person to another through touch. It can also be spread when you touch something that has the fungus on it.

Symptoms of a Candida auris infection depend on whether it occurs in the blood, the ear, a wound, or some other part of the body. The most common symptoms are a fever and chills that don't get better when treated with medicines that fight infections. Since most people with a C. auris infection are already sick, it may be hard to tell which symptoms are caused by C. auris.

If a Candida auris infection is suspected, your doctor may take a sample of blood, urine, a wound, or other body fluid such as cerebral spinal fluid (CSF). The sample is sent to the lab for testing.

A person may not be sick but may carry C. auris on their skin. The doctor may wipe the skin with a swab and send the swab to the lab.

A Candida auris infection is treated with antifungal medicines. Your doctor will use test results to see which medicine will work best. C. auris infections often don't respond well to just one medicine. In that case, your doctor may give you high doses of more than one antifungal.

If you have C. auris on your skin but aren't sick, you probably won't get treated. But if you are in a hospital or a nursing home, the staff may take steps to keep you from spreading C. auris to others.

This infection is usually treated in the hospital. While you're recovering, follow any instructions your doctor gives you. Go to any follow-up appointments. And take steps to avoid spreading the infection.