What are the treatment options for Candida auris at 69?

Question

Hello doctor,

My aunt is in the ICU right now, and we just found out her blood culture tested positive for Candida auris. None of us had heard of it before, and the doctors said it is a drug-resistant fungal infection that is really serious. She is 69 years old, diabetic, and had a recent hospital stay for pneumonia. She seemed fine a few days ago, and now she is confused and weak, and her kidney function is dropping. It is really scary. Can this fungus spread to other patients or staff in the hospital? What are the chances of recovery? What kinds of treatments actually work?

Please help.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Candida auris (C. auris) is indeed a serious and emerging infection, and you are right to be concerned. I will explain in clear terms what it is, what it means for her, and what your family can expect.

What is Candida auris?

C. auris is a drug-resistant fungal infection that can cause severe bloodstream infections, especially in patients who are already very sick or immunocompromised. It spreads easily in hospitals and nursing homes.

Your aunt’s risk is higher because of diabetes, recent pneumonia or hospitalization, and possibly a weakened immune system.

Why is it so dangerous?

It is often resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, making treatment difficult. It can invade the bloodstream, kidneys, heart, and other organs. Once it enters the bloodstream, mortality can be as high as 30 to 60 percent, especially in critically ill patients. Her confusion and kidney decline could be signs of sepsis or multi-organ stress, which are medical emergencies.

Can it spread?

Yes, and easily. C. auris can live on skin, clothing, bedding, and hospital surfaces even with good hygiene. It can spread between patients, staff, and visitors without symptoms (asymptomatic colonization).

Hospitals use strict contact precautions (gowns, gloves, isolation rooms), daily disinfecting with specialized cleaners, and surveillance cultures to detect colonization.

What treatments work?

The main treatment is an antifungal drug called Echinocandin (for example: Micafungin, Caspofungin, or Anidulafungin).
If it is resistant to Echinocandins, specialists may try liposomal Amphotericin B, which is more toxic and harder on the kidneys (a concern if her function is declining). These medications should be taken only after consulting a specialist doctor.
Treatment must be guided by antifungal susceptibility testing, which takes a few days.
Supportive care (intravenous fluids, blood pressure support, dialysis if needed) is crucial.

What is her outlook?

Recovery depends on:

How early did the treatment start?
Whether the infection is resistant.
Her organ function (especially kidneys, heart, and brain).
Whether she responds to antifungals.

If she stabilizes in the ICU (intensive care unit) and the team can control the infection, recovery is possible, but she is at high risk, and this is often a turning point in critical illness.

What can you do right now?

Ask her doctors:

Has the laboratory confirmed the drug resistance profile yet?
Is she on an Echinocandin or other effective antifungal now?
Are her kidneys being monitored for damage from infection or medications?

Make sure visitors follow strict hand hygiene and isolation rules.

I hope this has helped you.

Please feel free to reach out to me again if you have further queries.

Thank you.