TY - JOUR
T1 - COVID-19-associated candidiasis and the emerging concern of Candida auris infections
AU - Tsai, Chin Shiang
AU - Lee, Susan Shin Jung
AU - Chen, Wan Chen
AU - Tseng, Chien Hao
AU - Lee, Nan Yao
AU - Chen, Po Lin
AU - Li, Ming Chi
AU - Syue, Ling Shan
AU - Lo, Ching Lung
AU - Ko, Wen Chien
AU - Hung, Yuan Pin
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2022
PY - 2023/8
Y1 - 2023/8
N2 - The incidence of COVID-19-associated candidiasis (CAC) is increasing, resulting in a grave outcome among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The most alarming condition is the increasing incidence of multi-drug resistant Candida auris infections among patients with COVID-19 worldwide. The therapeutic strategy towards CAC caused by common Candida species, such as Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata, is similar to the pre-pandemic era. For non-critically ill patients or those with a low risk of azole resistance, fluconazole remains the drug of choice for candidemia. For critically ill patients, those with a history of recent azole exposure or with a high risk of fluconazole resistance, echinocandins are recommended as the first-line therapy. Several novel therapeutic agents alone or in combination with traditional antifungal agents for candidiasis are potential options in the future. However, for multidrug-resistant C. auris infection, only echinocandins are effective. Infection prevention and control policies, including strict isolation of the patients carrying C. auris and regular screening of non-affected patients, are suggested to prevent the spread of C. auris among patients with COVID-19. Whole-genome sequencing may be used to understand the epidemiology of healthcare-associated candidiasis and to better control and prevent these infections.
AB - The incidence of COVID-19-associated candidiasis (CAC) is increasing, resulting in a grave outcome among hospitalized patients with COVID-19. The most alarming condition is the increasing incidence of multi-drug resistant Candida auris infections among patients with COVID-19 worldwide. The therapeutic strategy towards CAC caused by common Candida species, such as Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis, and Candida glabrata, is similar to the pre-pandemic era. For non-critically ill patients or those with a low risk of azole resistance, fluconazole remains the drug of choice for candidemia. For critically ill patients, those with a history of recent azole exposure or with a high risk of fluconazole resistance, echinocandins are recommended as the first-line therapy. Several novel therapeutic agents alone or in combination with traditional antifungal agents for candidiasis are potential options in the future. However, for multidrug-resistant C. auris infection, only echinocandins are effective. Infection prevention and control policies, including strict isolation of the patients carrying C. auris and regular screening of non-affected patients, are suggested to prevent the spread of C. auris among patients with COVID-19. Whole-genome sequencing may be used to understand the epidemiology of healthcare-associated candidiasis and to better control and prevent these infections.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.12.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jmii.2022.12.002
M3 - Review article
C2 - 36543722
AN - SCOPUS:85144806077
SN - 1684-1182
VL - 56
SP - 672
EP - 679
JO - Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection
JF - Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection
IS - 4
ER -