In the United States, there are approximately 500,000 cases of bloodstream infections every year, and the majority of these are bacterial. While invasive candidiasis is one of the most common fungal infections, candidemia accounts for only about 25,000 of the bloodstream infections that occur yearly in the United States. That’s why providers may not have much experience managing it.
Invasive candidiasis is a serious condition occurring frequently in people who are already very sick. It’s hard to tease out what complications occur because of the invasive candidiasis vs other medical issues. Recent studies suggest that one out of every four people with candidemia will die during hospitalization. Invasive candidiasis is serious, so it’s important to have a great team of providers.
Not all cases of invasive candidiasis are created equally. There are many types of Candida. Candida albicans is the most common cause of invasive candidiasis. The other common types of Candida are non-albicans species called glabrata, parapsilosis, tropicalis, and krusei. The non-albicans species are becoming more common—they are often resistant to traditional antifungal drugs. So it’s important that your healthcare provider identify the type of Candida you have and assess how likely it is to respond to different drugs.
Candida auris is a type of Candida that has drawn a lot of public attention. It is sometimes labeled a “superbug,” because it has the ability to resist most commonly used antifungals. Candida auris can live on patient’s skin and survive for long periods of time on environmental surfaces. It can spread within healthcare facilities, like long-term acute care hospitals, causing outbreaks. We address many issues associated with Candida auris in the Question/Answer section.