What is Candida auris fungus and how dangerous is it?

Candida fungi live naturally inside the human body and on their skin, but can cause serious infections if they grow excessively.

These infections raise concern, according to the Australian Betterhealth website, because they are more difficult to treat than other types of Candida infections, as these fungi are often drug-resistant.

Ear fungi are also more easily transmitted from person to person than other types of Candida.

For this reason, these fungi can cause infection to be transmitted from one patient to another or through shared equipment within hospitals and nursing homes.

Risk factors associated with ear fungus

Candida auris colonization in healthy people does not usually lead to health problems. People may carry this fungus on their skin without showing any symptoms. ​​

However, these individuals are at risk of developing Candida auris infection if they are hospitalized for another reason or treated with antibiotics.

For some people, such as those who suffer from a weak or defective immune system or who have other diseases and health conditions, this fungus may pose a serious problem, as it can cause a severe infection in the bloodstream, wounds, or ears.

The risk of infection with Candida auris increases in patients who:

Treatment of Candida aureus infection

The majority of infections can be treated with antifungal medications known as echinocandins.

However, some infections with this type of fungus are resistant to the main types of antifungals, making them more difficult to treat;

In such cases, several types of antifungals in high doses may be required to treat the infection.

Because there is currently no evidence that fungal colonization can be eliminated with antifungals, treatment is neither necessary nor recommended for people who are found to carry Candida auris but have no symptoms or signs of infection.