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Candida auris
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Candida auris

A special issue of Journal of Fungi (ISSN 2309-608X).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2019) | Viewed by 79221

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Jacques F. Meis

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Guest Editor
Department of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Canisius Wilhelmina Hospital (CWZ), 6532 Nijmegen, The Netherlands
Interests: candida; Candida auris; drug resistance fungal; emerging fungal diseases
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary

grade E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Medical Mycology, Vallabhbhai Patel Chest Institute, University of Delhi, Delhi, India
Interests: fungal infections; Candida; Aspergillus; dermatophytes; antifungal resistance
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the first formal description of Candida auris, isolated from the external ear of a Japanese patient in 2009. Retrospective studies of culture collections of yeasts from before 2009 only showed single isolates from Korea in 1996 (the earliest known isolate to date) and from Pakistan in 2008. In a relatively short period, C. auris was able to spread all over the world, mainly in hospitals, being reported now from six continents and more than 35 countries. Several countries have reported persistent problems and prolonged outbreaks in healthcare facilities. Unlike other Candida spp., C. auris seems to colonize the skin of patients and can contaminate hospital environments.

C. auris is easily transmitted in healthcare settings and is the first fungus to behave like an epidemic nosocomial bacterial pathogen. Transmission within and between hospitals and nursing home facilities confronts us with major infection control challenges, prompting authorities in the US to declare colonization or infection with C. auris from 2019 onwards a notifiable disease. More than 90% of C. auris isolates are fluconazole resistant, with some rare isolates also being resistant to all three major antifungal classes, leaving no treatment options. A major explanation for the quick worldwide spread was that C. auris is often misidentified as other Candida spp., notably C. haemulonii, or Saccharomyces when phenotypical identification methods are used. Manufacturers are now working to solve this problem of routine identification, but molecular methods or MALDI-TOF can reliably identify C. auris. We invite you to submit your latest results on C. auris to this Special Issue of the Journal of Fungi.

Sincerely,

Dr. Jacques F. Meis
Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • Candida
  • Candida auris
  • drug resistant fungi
  • infection control
  • emerging fungal diseases

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Editorial

Jump to: Research, Review, Other

2 pages, 166 KiB  
Editorial
Candida auris—“Ten Years After”
by Jacques F. Meis and Anuradha Chowdhary
J. Fungi 2020, 6(1), 2; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof6010002 - 18 Dec 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3535
Abstract
We would like to thank all contributors to this Special Issue on Candida auris [...] Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)

Research

Jump to: Editorial, Review, Other

14 pages, 3212 KiB  
Article
Thermogenic Characterization and Antifungal Susceptibility of Candida auris by Microcalorimetry
by Mariagrazia Di Luca, Anna Koliszak, Svetlana Karbysheva, Anuradha Chowdhary, Jacques F. Meis and Andrej Trampuz
J. Fungi 2019, 5(4), 103; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5040103 - 6 Nov 2019
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 4103
Abstract
Candida auris has emerged globally as a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. Isolates of C. auris are reported to be misidentified as Candida haemulonii. The aim of the study was to compare the heat production profiles of C. auris strains and other Candida spp. [...] Read more.
Candida auris has emerged globally as a multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. Isolates of C. auris are reported to be misidentified as Candida haemulonii. The aim of the study was to compare the heat production profiles of C. auris strains and other Candida spp. and evaluate their antifungal susceptibility using isothermal microcalorimetry. The minimum heat inhibitory concentrations (MHIC) and the minimum biofilm fungicidal concentration (MBFC) were defined as the lowest antimicrobial concentration leading to the lack of heat flow production after 24 h for planktonic cells and 48 h for biofilm-embedded cells. C. auris exhibited a peculiar heat production profile. Thermogenic parameters of C. auris suggested a slower growth rate compared to Candida lusitaniae and a different distinct heat profile compared to that of C. haemulonii species complex strains, although they all belong to the Metschnikowiaceae clade. Amphotericin B MHIC and MBFC were 0.5 µg/mL and ≥8 µg/mL, respectively. C. auris strains were non-susceptible to fluconazole at tested concentrations (MHIC > 128 µg/mL, MBFC > 256 µg/mL). The heat curve represents a fingerprint of C. auris, which distinguished it from other species. Treatment based on amphotericin B represents a potential therapeutic option for C. auris infection. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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13 pages, 2330 KiB  
Article
Ongoing Challenges with Healthcare-Associated Candida auris Outbreaks in Oman
by Amal Al Maani, Hema Paul, Azza Al-Rashdi, Adil Al Wahaibi, Amina Al-Jardani, Asma M. Ali Al Abri, Mariam A. H. AlBalushi, Seif Al Abri, Mohammed Al Reesi, Ali Al Maqbali, Nashwa M. Al Kasaby, Theun de Groot, Jacques F. Meis and Abdullah M. S. Al-Hatmi
J. Fungi 2019, 5(4), 101; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5040101 - 23 Oct 2019
Cited by 42 | Viewed by 5017
Abstract
Candida auris has emerged in the past decade as a multi-drug resistant public health threat causing health care outbreaks. Here we report epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological investigations of a C. auris outbreak in a regional Omani hospital between April 2018 and April 2019. [...] Read more.
Candida auris has emerged in the past decade as a multi-drug resistant public health threat causing health care outbreaks. Here we report epidemiological, clinical, and microbiological investigations of a C. auris outbreak in a regional Omani hospital between April 2018 and April 2019. The outbreak started in the intensive care areas (intensive care unit (ICU), coronary care unit (CCU), and high dependency unit) but cases were subsequently diagnosed in other medical and surgical units. In addition to the patients’ clinical and screening samples, environmental swabs from high touch areas and from the hands of 35 staff were collected. All the positive samples from patients and environmental screening were confirmed using MALDI-TOF, and additional ITS-rDNA sequencing was done for ten clinical and two environmental isolates. There were 32 patients positive for C. auris of which 14 (43.8%) had urinary tract infection, 11 (34.4%) had candidemia, and 7 (21.8%) had asymptomatic skin colonization. The median age was 64 years (14–88) with 17 (53.1%) male and 15 (46.9%) female patients. Prior to diagnosis, 21 (65.6%) had been admitted to the intensive care unit, and 11 (34.4%) had been nursed in medical or surgical wards. The crude mortality rate in our patient’s cohort was 53.1. Two swabs collected from a ventilator in two different beds in the ICU were positive for C. auris. None of the health care worker samples were positive. Molecular typing showed that clinical and environmental isolates were genetically similar and all belonged to the South Asian C. auris clade I. Most isolates had non-susceptible fluconazole (100%) and amphotericin B (33%) minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs), but had low echinocandin and voriconazole MICs. Despite multimodal infection prevention and control measures, new cases continued to appear, challenging all the containment efforts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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9 pages, 531 KiB  
Article
External Quality Assessment Evaluating the Ability of Dutch Clinical Microbiological Laboratories to Identify Candida auris
by Jochem B. Buil, Henrich A. L. van der Lee, Ilse Curfs-Breuker, Paul E. Verweij and Jacques F. Meis
J. Fungi 2019, 5(4), 94; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5040094 - 7 Oct 2019
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3929
Abstract
Background: Candida auris is a yeast that is causing nosocomial outbreaks in healthcare facilities around the world. There is a risk of the misidentification of C. auris with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)—when libraries are used that lack [...] Read more.
Background: Candida auris is a yeast that is causing nosocomial outbreaks in healthcare facilities around the world. There is a risk of the misidentification of C. auris with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS)—when libraries are used that lack C. auris spectra, or when conventional biochemical methods are used. Methods: We conducted an external quality assessment to evaluate the ability of Dutch clinical microbiological laboratories to identify C. auris, and to raise awareness about the risk of misidentification. Results: 35/47 participating laboratories were able to identify C. auris correctly. Only 2/14 labs that potentially misidentified C. auris with their primary identification methods specified that they would perform additional tests to exclude C. auris when appropriate. 45/47 labs used MALDI-TOF MS systems to identify Candida species. Conclusions: There was a lack of awareness about the potential misidentification of C. auris in many labs that used MALDI-TOF MS with libraries that lacked C. auris spectra, and labs that used Vitek 2. However, as the currently available MALDI-TOF MS libraries in The Netherlands contain several C. auris spectra, we expect that currently almost all participating laboratories are able to identify C. auris correctly, as 45/47 participating laboratories use MALDI-TOF MS as their primary yeast identification method. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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17 pages, 2069 KiB  
Article
Repositionable Compounds with Antifungal Activity against Multidrug Resistant Candida auris Identified in the Medicines for Malaria Venture’s Pathogen Box
by Gina Wall, Natalia Herrera and José L. Lopez-Ribot
J. Fungi 2019, 5(4), 92; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5040092 - 1 Oct 2019
Cited by 47 | Viewed by 6149
Abstract
Background. Candida auris has spread rapidly around the world as a causative agent of invasive candidiasis in health care facilities and there is an urgent need to find new options for treating this emerging, often multidrug-resistant pathogen. Methods. We screened the Pathogen Box [...] Read more.
Background. Candida auris has spread rapidly around the world as a causative agent of invasive candidiasis in health care facilities and there is an urgent need to find new options for treating this emerging, often multidrug-resistant pathogen. Methods. We screened the Pathogen Box® chemical library for inhibitors of C. auris strain 0390, both under planktonic and biofilm growing conditions. Results. The primary screen identified 12 compounds that inhibited at least 60% of biofilm formation or planktonic growth. After confirmatory dose-response assays, iodoquinol and miltefosine were selected as the two main leading repositionable compounds. Iodoquinol displayed potent in vitro inhibitory activity against planktonic C. auris but showed negligible inhibitory activity against biofilms; whereas miltefosine was able to inhibit the growth of C. auris under both planktonic and biofilm-growing conditions. Subsequent experiments confirmed their activity against nine other strains C. auris clinical isolates, irrespective of their susceptibility profiles against conventional antifungals. We extended our studies further to seven different species of Candida, also with similar findings. Conclusion. Both drugs possess broad spectrum of activity against Candida spp., including multiple strains of the emergent C. auris, and may constitute promising repositionable options for the development of novel therapeutics for the treatment of candidiasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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8 pages, 501 KiB  
Article
Hospital Laboratory Survey for Identification of Candida auris in Belgium
by Klaas Dewaele, Katrien Lagrou, Johan Frans, Marie-Pierre Hayette and Kris Vernelen
J. Fungi 2019, 5(3), 84; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5030084 - 5 Sep 2019
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4435
Abstract
Candida auris is a difficult-to-identify, emerging yeast and a cause of sustained nosocomial outbreaks. Presently, not much data exist on laboratory preparedness in Europe. To assess the ability of laboratories in Belgium and Luxembourg to detect this species, a blinded C. auris strain [...] Read more.
Candida auris is a difficult-to-identify, emerging yeast and a cause of sustained nosocomial outbreaks. Presently, not much data exist on laboratory preparedness in Europe. To assess the ability of laboratories in Belgium and Luxembourg to detect this species, a blinded C. auris strain was included in the regular proficiency testing rounds organized by the Belgian public health institute, Sciensano. Laboratories were asked to identify and report the isolate as they would in routine clinical practice, as if grown from a blood culture. Of 142 respondents, 82 (57.7%) obtained a correct identification of C. auris. Of 142 respondents, 27 (19.0%) identified the strain as Candida haemulonii. The remaining labs that did not obtain a correct identification (33/142, 23.2%), reported other yeast species (4/33) or failed to obtain a species identification (29/33). To assess awareness about the infection-control implications of the identification, participants were requested to indicate whether referral of this isolate to a reference laboratory was desirable in a clinical context. Over one-third of all respondents (54/142, 38.0%) stated that they would not send the isolate to a reference laboratory, neither for epidemiological reasons nor for identification confirmation or antifungal susceptibility testing. This comprised 41.5% of the laboratories that submitted an identification of C. auris (34/82). Awareness among Belgian microbiologists, therefore, remains inadequate more than two years after C. auris’ emergence in European clinics. Our data confirm high rates of misidentifications with commonly used identification methods. Programs for raising awareness in European hospitals may be warranted. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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8 pages, 247 KiB  
Article
Does Online Search Behavior Coincide with Candida auris Cases? An Exploratory Study
by Katja Saris, Jacques F. Meis, Jesús Rodriguez Baño, Evelina Tacconelli, Tom H. van de Belt and Andreas Voss
J. Fungi 2019, 5(2), 44; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5020044 - 4 Jun 2019
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3797
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug resistant infectious yeast which is challenging to eradicate and despite available laboratory methods is still difficult to identify especially in less developed countries. To limit the rapid spread of C. auris, quick and accurate detection is [...] Read more.
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug resistant infectious yeast which is challenging to eradicate and despite available laboratory methods is still difficult to identify especially in less developed countries. To limit the rapid spread of C. auris, quick and accurate detection is essential. From the perspective of disease surveillance, additional methods of tracking this yeast are needed. In order to increase global preparedness, we explored the use of online search behavior to monitor the recent global spread of C. auris. We used Google Trends to assess online search behavior on C. auris from January 2016 until August 2018. Weekly Google Trends results were counted as hits and compared to confirmed C. auris cases obtained via publications and a global expert network of key opinion leaders. A total of 44 countries generated a hit, of which 30% (13/44) were confirmed known cases, 34% (15/44) were missed known cases, 34% (15/44) were hits for unknown cases, and 2% (1/44) were confirmed unknown cases. Conclusions: Google Trends searches is rapidly able to provide information on countries with an increased search interest in C. auris. However, Google Trends search results do not generally coincide with C. auris cases or clusters. This study did show that using Google Trends provides both insight into the known and highlights the unknown, providing potential for surveillance and tracking and hence aid in taking timely precautionary measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)

Review

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11 pages, 294 KiB  
Review
Candida auris: A Review of Recommendations for Detection and Control in Healthcare Settings
by Diego H. Caceres, Kaitlin Forsberg, Rory M. Welsh, David Joseph Sexton, Shawn R. Lockhart, Brendan R. Jackson and Tom Chiller
J. Fungi 2019, 5(4), 111; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5040111 - 28 Nov 2019
Cited by 70 | Viewed by 8758
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. Since first reported in 2009, C. auris has caused healthcare outbreaks around the world, often involving high mortality. Identification of C. auris has been a major challenge as many common conventional laboratory methods cannot accurately [...] Read more.
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen. Since first reported in 2009, C. auris has caused healthcare outbreaks around the world, often involving high mortality. Identification of C. auris has been a major challenge as many common conventional laboratory methods cannot accurately detect it. Early detection and implementation of infection control practices can prevent its spread. The aim of this review is to describe recommendations for the detection and control of C. auris in healthcare settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
9 pages, 212 KiB  
Review
Molecular Diagnostics in the Times of Surveillance for Candida auris
by Milena Kordalewska and David S. Perlin
J. Fungi 2019, 5(3), 77; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5030077 - 20 Aug 2019
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4268
Abstract
Recently, global health professionals have been significantly challenged by the emergence of Candida auris and its propensity to colonize human skin, persist in the healthcare environment, and cause healthcare-associated outbreaks. Additionally, C. auris isolates are often characterized by elevated minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) [...] Read more.
Recently, global health professionals have been significantly challenged by the emergence of Candida auris and its propensity to colonize human skin, persist in the healthcare environment, and cause healthcare-associated outbreaks. Additionally, C. auris isolates are often characterized by elevated minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for antifungal drugs. Thus, rapid detection and accurate identification of C. auris together with an assessment of potential antifungal drug resistance has become essential for effective patient management, and infection prevention and control in healthcare facilities. Surprisingly, almost all of the commonly available diagnostic tools rely on recovery (growth) of yeast colonies from collected samples, which delays the diagnostic result by several days or longer. To circumvent these issues, molecular-based DNA amplification assays have been developed to identify C. auris DNA directly from patient samples. Moreover, allele discriminating detection probes can be used to rapidly assess validated mechanisms of echinocandin and azole resistance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)

Other

6 pages, 209 KiB  
Perspective
National Public Health Response to Candida auris in England
by Colin S. Brown and Rebecca Guy
J. Fungi 2019, 5(4), 93; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5040093 - 3 Oct 2019
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3508
Abstract
This paper highlights the key steps undertaken by a national public health agency, working in close collaboration with academic partners and experienced healthcare professionals, in developing a response to the rapid emergence of a novel nosocomial pathogen. It details the key activities in [...] Read more.
This paper highlights the key steps undertaken by a national public health agency, working in close collaboration with academic partners and experienced healthcare professionals, in developing a response to the rapid emergence of a novel nosocomial pathogen. It details the key activities in national incident management team formation, surveillance activities, epidemiological investigations, laboratory developments, scientific advances, and collaborative activities. It discusses commonalities that can be adapted for dealing with the emergence of future new pathogens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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Graphical abstract

7 pages, 850 KiB  
Case Report
The First Two Cases of Candida auris in The Netherlands
by Erik H. Vogelzang, Annemarie J.L. Weersink, Rosa van Mansfeld, Nancy A. Chow, Jacques F. Meis and Karin van Dijk
J. Fungi 2019, 5(4), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5040091 - 30 Sep 2019
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5454
Abstract
Candida auris is a rapidly emerging multidrug-resistant pathogenic yeast. In recent years, an increasing number of C. auris invasive infections and colonized patients have been reported, and C. auris has been associated with hospital outbreaks worldwide, mainly in intensive care units (ICUs). Here, [...] Read more.
Candida auris is a rapidly emerging multidrug-resistant pathogenic yeast. In recent years, an increasing number of C. auris invasive infections and colonized patients have been reported, and C. auris has been associated with hospital outbreaks worldwide, mainly in intensive care units (ICUs). Here, we describe the first two cases of C. auris in The Netherlands. Both cases were treated in a healthcare facility in India prior to admission. The patients were routinely placed in contact precautions in a single room after admission, which is common practice in The Netherlands for patients with hospitalization outside The Netherlands. No transmission of C. auris was noticed in both hospitals. Routine admission screening both for multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria and MDR yeasts should be considered for patients admitted from foreign hospitals or countries with reported C. auris transmission. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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17 pages, 672 KiB  
Perspective
On the Origins of a Species: What Might Explain the Rise of Candida auris?
by Brendan R. Jackson, Nancy Chow, Kaitlin Forsberg, Anastasia P. Litvintseva, Shawn R. Lockhart, Rory Welsh, Snigdha Vallabhaneni and Tom Chiller
J. Fungi 2019, 5(3), 58; https://doi.org/10.3390/jof5030058 - 6 Jul 2019
Cited by 110 | Viewed by 25100
Abstract
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast first described in 2009 that has since caused healthcare-associated outbreaks of severe human infections around the world. In some hospitals, it has become a leading cause of invasive candidiasis. C. auris is markedly different from most [...] Read more.
Candida auris is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast first described in 2009 that has since caused healthcare-associated outbreaks of severe human infections around the world. In some hospitals, it has become a leading cause of invasive candidiasis. C. auris is markedly different from most other pathogenic Candida species in its genetics, antifungal resistance, and ability to spread between patients. The reasons why this fungus began spreading widely in the last decade remain a mystery. We examine available data on C. auris and related species, including genomic epidemiology, phenotypic characteristics, and sites of detection, to put forth hypotheses on its possible origins. C. auris has not been detected in the natural environment; related species have been detected in in plants, insects, and aquatic environments, as well as from human body sites. It can tolerate hypersaline environments and higher temperatures than most Candida species. We explore hypotheses about the pre-emergence niche of C. auris, whether in the environmental or human microbiome, and speculate on factors that might have led to its spread, including the possible roles of healthcare, antifungal use, and environmental changes, including human activities that might have expanded its presence in the environment or caused increased human contact. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Candida auris)
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