<i>Candida auris</i> infection: How prepared is Nigeria for this emerging fungal agent?

Abstract

Reports from Asia and other parts of the world have demonstrated that the incidence of Candida auris infection is on the rise. Candida auris is a fungal pathogen causing a wide variety of infections affecting people of all age groups. Candida auris was first described in 2009 and has since emerged as an important cause of invasive fungal infection, most importantly healthcareassociated candidaemia. Large outbreaks have been reported worldwide, with therapeutic failure and associated high mortality rates recorded. The emergence and spread of C. auris raises public health concerns because of some characteristics of this pathogen. First it is resistant to many antifungal agents making this infection very difficult to treat. It is also associated with horizontal transmission in health care settings causing outbreaks among hospitalized individuals with high mortality rates. Furthermore, identification of C auris is a challenge. Routine identification methods usually misidentify the organism as other yeasts especially Candida haemulonii. This review discusses the current knowledge on the epidemiology, treatment and control of this infection. The urgent need for the stakeholders in Nigerian tertiary hospitals to set machinery in motion for prompt diagnosis, management and prevention of transmission of this infection are also discussed.

Epidemiology, Clinical Features and Antifungal Resistance Profile of &lt;i&gt;Candida auris&lt;/i&gt; in Africa: Systematic Review

“…Indeed, this fungus is characterized by its ability to colonize the human body, and its aptitude to survive in an abiotic environment for weeks [10]. This situation is associated with horizontal transmission, causing outbreaks in health care settings [11]. Furthermore, C. auris is frequently misidentified by standard microbiological techniques [12].…”

Emergence and Genomic Characterization of Multidrug Resistant Candida auris in Nigeria, West Africa

“…In Africa, C. auris has been previously reported in South Africa, Kenya, Sudan, Egypt, and Algeria [ 7 ]. In Nigeria, the prevalence of C. auris was unknown because no cases of colonization or infection had been reported before [ 8 ]. However, given its geographical location, with frequent travel of the population for business and medical purposes to India, South Africa, the USA, and the UK to the west, the country is at high risk for the spread of this pathogen.…”

Emergence and Genomic Characterization of Multidrug resistant Candida auris in West Africa

“…Since it was first isolated from an ear canal sample of a Japanese patient in 2009, it has been isolated in several countries on five continents across the world. Mortality rates have varied significantly among geographic regions from Asia, far East and the United states have reported a 50% mortality rate this is in contrast to Venezuela where survival rate is 72% (6). In Nigeria, the prevalence of C. auris is unknown because no cases of colonization or infection have been reported (6).…”

“…Mortality rates have varied significantly among geographic regions from Asia, far East and the United states have reported a 50% mortality rate this is in contrast to Venezuela where survival rate is 72% (6). In Nigeria, the prevalence of C. auris is unknown because no cases of colonization or infection have been reported (6). Yet given its geographical location, with frequent travel of the population for business and medical purposes to India, South Africa, USA and UK to the west, the country is at high risk for the spread of this pathogen.…”