Candida auris: The Canary in the Mine of Antifungal Drug Resistance

Abstract

Candia auris has rapidly emerged as a fungal pathogen of worldwide importance. Its impact on global health is due in large part to the high frequency of multidrug resistance among C. auris clinical isolates. Although C. auris resistance to amphotericin B is an unusual feature of this organism, its notoriety should also serve as notice that other more commonly encountered fungal pathogens also show multidrug resistance. Here, we review the epidemiology and mechanisms of C. auris resistance and discuss why the emergence of C. auris provides justification for increased research into mechanisms of drug resistance and the development of novel antifungal drugs.