Work

Candida auris is emerging as a prevalent urinary pathogen

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are one of the most common infections, with a subgroup of these infections, catheter-associated UTIs (CAUTIs), accounting for 40% of nosocomial infections. While the majority of CAUTI pathogens are bacterial, the second most common pathogen is the fungus Candida albicans. However, in recent years, Candida auris has increasingly been isolated from urine, indicating C. auris' potential as a urinary pathogen. C. auris has rapidly emerged as a human pathogen worldwide, becoming a serious health threat. This is of great concern due to its antifungal resistance, adherence to inanimate surfaces, high mortality rates, and the extensive knowledge gap regarding C. auris' prevalence and pathophysiology. To understand whether C. auris is prevalent in the urinary tract, we analyzed 12,996 C. auris clinical strains and their frequency related to urine and urinary catheters. We identified urine as the second most common C. auris isolation source in the United States and the third most common worldwide. Anecdotally, C. auris urine isolates are often associated with urinary catheters and high mortality rates. Furthermore, there has been an early indication of urinary isolates developing echinocandin resistance. With the increasing incidence of uropathogenic C. auris, it is critical to have an in-depth understanding of C. auris pathogenesis in the urinary tract to effectively prevent and treat these infections.

Source: PLoS Pathogens

DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1013138

Authors: Alyssa Ann La Bella, Felipe Hiram Santiago-Tirado, Ana Lidia Flores-Mireles

Institution: University of Notre Dame

Language: English

Topic: Antifungal resistance and susceptibility

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,043