The emerging pathogen Candida auris: host interactions and disease drivers

Candida auris has emerged over the past fifteen years as a multidrug-resistant human fungal pathogen responsible for hospital-acquired infections associated with high mortality rates. Clinical isolates frequently exhibit resistance to one or more first-line antifungal drugs, and management is further complicated by persistent colonization, biofilm formation, and historical misidentification in diagnostic laboratories. Rapid species-level identification and accurate antifungal susceptibility testing are critical for effective patient care and infection control. In this article, we summarize the clinical spectrum of C. auris infections, highlight key pathogenic traits and clade-specific biological differences, and discuss emerging diagnostic, therapeutic, and preventative strategies-including novel antifungal agents, host-directed therapies, and vaccine development-that may improve detection and expand treatment options for C. auris infections.