Candida auris: Multidrug resistance and new treatment strategies

Abstract

Candida auris is an emerging public health threat fungal pathogen of high virulence and mortality rates throughout the world causing outbreaks in hospitals, hence it has become both an unfathomable and challenging nosocomial infection. The prevalence of this yeast infection is mostly seen in immunocompromised patients admitted to intensive care units in use of antibiotics, immunosuppressive drugs and catheters. As it exhibits an amplified resistance to recurrent antifungal drugs, along with its delayed diagnostic rates due to its similarities to other Candida species, in addition to how quickly it spreads, this pathogen takes part in a major concern within healthcare centers. C. auris’ high virulence is mainly on account of the biofilm formation in medical devices as a consequence of its phenotypic plasticity and ability to adapt to the most challenging and fraught conditions remaining viable in innumerable surfaces for up to two weeks. A better understanding of those aspects is imperative in order to control and provide alternative treatment strategies. In light of this, the aim of this study was to systematically investigate publications related to C. auris' relevance, focusing on the epidemiological strains prevalent all over the world, not only as a nosocomial rising infection and its concern in global public health, but also focus on its resistance mechanisms to available antifungal treatment in addition to propose future investigation on new promising treatment strategies.