What is the epidemiologic rate of incidence of Candida auris in healthcare settings, particularly in intensive care units (ICUs) among immunocompromised patients?

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Last updated: January 23, 2026View editorial policy

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Epidemiologic Incidence of Candida auris

I cannot provide specific epidemiologic incidence rates for Candida auris in the locations you've requested, as the provided evidence does not contain location-specific data or detailed incidence rates for C. auris in any particular geographic region.

Available Epidemiologic Information

The evidence shows that C. auris represents a rapidly emerging global threat with increasing case numbers, but specific incidence rates by location are not provided in the available literature.

Global Trends

  • Clinical cases of C. auris in the United States increased from 329 in 2018 to 1,012 in 2021, demonstrating a three-fold increase over this period 1
  • C. auris has been identified by the WHO as a critical priority pathogen, with mortality rates ranging between 30% and 72% 2
  • The pathogen causes at least 13 million fungal infections globally per year (across all Candida species), with 1.5 million deaths annually 3

Healthcare Setting Context

  • C. auris is primarily a healthcare-associated infection affecting critically ill patients in intensive care units 3, 4
  • The incidence is highest among immunocompromised and hospitalized patients, particularly those with organ transplants, on immunosuppressive agents, diabetic patients, those with recent antibiotic use, catheter use, and prolonged hospital stays 1
  • In one Greek ICU observational study over 38 months, 32 patients were identified with C. auris infection (6 patients) or colonization (26 patients), with crude mortality of 43.75% 5

Geographic Variation

  • C. auris was reported as the most prevalent Candida species in some geographical areas such as India during the COVID-19 pandemic 6
  • There is considerable geographic, center-to-center, and unit-to-unit variability in the prevalence of pathogenic Candida species 7

Critical Limitation

No large-scale epidemiology studies with specific incidence rates per population or healthcare facility have been reported in the available evidence 2. The lack of standardized surveillance and diagnostic challenges with conventional techniques impede accurate epidemiologic tracking and early outbreak detection 2.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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