How is Candida auris treated in patients with renal failure?

Question

Hello doctor,

My father is 75 years old. He is diabetic and has partial renal failure, for which he undergoes weekly dialysis. After his last dialysis session, he developed a continuous fever along with body aches. At first, we thought it might be a common bacterial or viral infection, but now the doctors suspect it is a fungal infection, Candida auris. Can you please tell me how serious Candida auris is, especially in someone with his health condition? Is it dangerous? What are the commonly recommended medications or treatments for it, if they are treatable?

Kindly help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I can understand your concern.

I am sorry to hear about what your father is going through. You are right to be concerned. Candida auris is a serious infection, particularly in patients like your father who are elderly, diabetic, and on dialysis. Let me explain why: Candida auris (C. auris) is a type of multidrug-resistant fungal infection that has become a major concern in hospitals and intensive care units (ICUs) worldwide.

In someone like your father, diabetic, immunocompromised, and undergoing dialysis, C. auris can be particularly dangerous, especially if it enters the bloodstream (invasive candidemia). It is known to cause persistent fever, sepsis, and organ dysfunction if not diagnosed and treated promptly. C. auris is often resistant to multiple antifungal medications. It can also persist on surfaces in healthcare environments and spread between patients, which makes infection control very important.

Is it treatable?

Yes, but it needs targeted antifungal therapy guided by culture and sensitivity results. The treatment depends on which antifungal agents the specific strain is sensitive to.

Common treatment options include -.

Echinocandins (for example, Caspofungin, Micafungin, or Anidulafungin) are usually the first choice. If the infection is resistant to echinocandins, doctors may consider it.
Amphotericin B (liposomal formulation) is more effective but with potential kidney toxicity, which is a concern in your father’s case.
Combination therapy in severe or resistant cases.

Antifungal treatment is usually given intravenously, often for two weeks or longer, depending on the response.

Other supportive steps include -

Close monitoring of vital signs, kidney function, and inflammatory markers.
Strict infection control is needed to prevent it from spreading within the dialysis unit or hospital.
Removal or change of any infected catheters or central lines, if applicable.

What you can do now:

Make sure cultures (blood, catheter tips, urine, etc.) are sent to confirm the diagnosis and sensitivity profile. Ask if your father’s doctors are working with an infectious disease specialist; this is important for managing complex fungal infections like C. auris. Monitor for signs of worsening infection: low blood pressure, reduced consciousness, increased breathing rate, etc.

Please do not hesitate to share any updates on his laboratory reports, or let us know if you would like help interpreting the treatment plan from the hospital. I am here to help however I can.

Take care.

Regards.