First three reported cases of nosocomial fungemia caused by Candida auris

J Clin Microbiol. 2011 Sep;49(9):3139-42. doi: 10.1128/JCM.00319-11. Epub 2011 Jun 29.

Abstract

Candida auris is a newly described species whose clinical significance is not clear. Here, we describe the first three cases of nosocomial fungemia caused by C. auris, which confirms that it is a causative agent of bloodstream infections. All three patients presented persistent fungemia for 10 to 31 days. The isolates obtained from the three patients were misidentified as Candida haemulonii and Rhodotorula glutinis by the Vitek 2 and the API 20C systems, respectively. C. auris was confirmed by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer region and D1/D2 regions of the 26S ribosomal DNA of the rRNA gene. The MIC ranges of amphotericin B (AMB), fluconazole (FLU), itraconazole, and voriconazole were 0.5 to 1, 2 to 128, 0.125 to 2, and 0.06 to 1 μg/ml, respectively. All isolates were susceptible to caspofungin (MIC = 0.06 μg/ml) and micafungin (MIC = 0.03 μg/ml). One patient developed breakthrough fungemia while receiving FLU therapy, and two patients who received FLU therapy followed by AMB showed therapeutic failure and fatal outcomes. Our cases show that C. auris fungemia can be persistent, despite FLU or AMB therapy, which emphasizes the importance of accurately identifying this species.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antifungal Agents / pharmacology
  • Candida / classification*
  • Candida / isolation & purification*
  • Candidemia / diagnosis*
  • Candidemia / microbiology*
  • Candidemia / pathology
  • Cross Infection / diagnosis*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • Cross Infection / pathology
  • DNA, Fungal / chemistry
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / chemistry
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Diagnostic Errors
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Microbial Sensitivity Tests
  • Mycological Typing Techniques / methods
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA

Substances

  • Antifungal Agents
  • DNA, Fungal
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer