Accelerated Increase in Candida auris Bloodstream Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, South Africa

Emerging infectious diseases 2026 Open access

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Authors: Husna Ismail, Olga Perovic, Ruth Mpembe, Warren Lowman, Chetna Govind, Pieter Ekermans, Waasila Jassat, Richard Welch, Nelesh P. Govender
DOI: 10.3201/eid3204.251407
Cited by: 3
References: 27

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic coincided with rising secondary bloodstream infections (BSIs) from multidrug-resistant organisms, including Candida auris. To assess candidemia trends, we conducted a retrospective analysis of blood culture isolates from public and private laboratories in South Africa taken during January 2019-June 2022. We evaluated weekly aggregated Candida BSI counts and COVID-19 cases using segmented regression within an interrupted time-series framework. In total, 15,393 candidemia cases were identified, 70% from the private sector. C. parapsilosis accounted for 39% of cases, whereas C. auris represented 26%. The proportion of C. auris increased significantly from 17% in 2019 to 31% in 2021 (p

Fields of Study & Subjects

Antifungal resistance and susceptibility Parasitic Diseases Research and Treatment Infective Endocarditis Diagnosis and Management

Publication details

Journal / source
Emerging infectious diseases
Publisher
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Volume
32
Issue
4
Pages
563–572
Publication date
1 April 2026
Language
EN