What is Candida auris (C. auris)?

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About Candida Auris (C. auris):

It is a fungal pathogen that is often multi-drug-resistant.
It is capable of causing invasive infections in the human body.
It can cause a range of infections, from superficial (skin) infections to more severe, life-threatening infections, such as bloodstream infections.
It can cause infection in different parts of the body, like the blood, wounds, and ears.
It was first identified in Japan in 2009.
How is it contracted?
- Most cases of the fungus have been reported in healthcare settings, such as hospitals and nursing homes.
- It is generally thought to be spread through contact with contaminated surfaces or by person-to-person transmission.
- People who are already suffering from other medical conditions, recent hospital stays, and invasive devices are most at risk of contracting the fungus.
How does the fungus act on the body? There are two ways C. auris can affect the body,
- The fungus can either live on a specific region, such as the skin, rectum, or mouth, in a process called “asymptomatic colonization,” where a patient has no symptoms but can spread it to other people.
- It can enter the bloodstream or wounds, where it can cause severe invasive infections.
Symptoms:
- Its symptoms are often similar to those of other common diseases, and hence diagnosis is difficult.
- The most common symptoms of C. auris include fever and chills that don’t go away after treatment with antibiotics.
Mortality Rate: It is estimated to be between 30-60%.
Treatment:
- Most C. auris infections are treatable with antifungal drugs called echinocandins.
- However, some C. auris infections are resistant to the main types of antifungal medications, making them more difficult to treat.
- In this situation, multiple antifungals at high doses may be required to treat the infection.

Q1: What is a Fungus?

Fungi, along with Animalia (animals), Plantae (plants), Protista, Archaea/Archaebacteria, and Bacteria or Eubacteria, form the six ‘kingdoms’ of biology. Fungi includes the yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, molds, and mushrooms. They are eukaryotic organisms, i.e., their cells contain membrane-bound organelles and clearly defined nuclei. Fungi usually reproduce both sexually and asexually.

Source: Researchers discover new Candida auris—a possible global public health threat