Publicar

09 - Candida auris: EPIDEMIOLOGIA, RESISTÊNCIA E DIAGNÓSTICO MOLECULAR EM AMBIENTES HOSPITALARES

Doi: 10.47094/IIICOLUBRASMU.2026/RE/10

PALAVRAS CHAVE: Infecção hospitalar. Resistência antifúngica. MALDI-TOF.

KEYWORDS: Healthcare-associated infection. Antifungal resistance. MALDI-TOF.

ABSTRACT:
INTRODUCTION
*Candida auris* is an emerging fungus that stands out as a significant causative agent of healthcare-associated infections, particularly due to its high level of antifungal resistance and ease of transmission within healthcare settings. First identified in 2009 in Tokyo, Japan, the species rapidly spread across several continents, with a marked increase in reported cases between 2015 and 2025 (CDC, 2024; WHO, 2022).
In Brazil, outbreaks were documented between 2021 and 2025, predominantly among critically ill patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs)—including individuals diagnosed with COVID-19, whose immunosuppression and prolonged use of corticosteroids and antimicrobials increased their susceptibility to colonization and invasive fungal infection (ANVISA, 2024; Brazil, 2025).
This microorganism is notoriously difficult to identify using conventional phenotypic methods and can be misidentified as other *Candida* species—such as *C. haemulonii*, *C. sake*, and *C. famata*—thereby compromising epidemiological accuracy and appropriate treatment. In contrast, matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) enables faster and more accurate diagnosis, reducing identification time from days to minutes (Patel, 2015; CDC, 2020).
Given the above, understanding resistance mechanisms, the limitations of conventional diagnostic methods, and hospital control strategies is imperative for patient safety and the quality of healthcare delivery.

Autores

  • Francesca Rosa Siggia

  • Franco Claudio Bonetti

  • Karolina Marie Alix Benedictte Van Sebroeck Dória

  • Luan Mendes de Souza Paulino

Download