Characterization of patients with Candida (Candidozyma) auris before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, 2017-2022

Haillie C Meek; Stacey Konkle; Belinda Ostrowsky; Eli S Rosenberg; Karen Southwick; Sarah Kogut; Monica Quinn; Ernest J Clement; Emily Lutterloh

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2025.06.016

Characterization of patients with Candida (Candidozyma) auris before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York, 2017-2022

Am J Infect Control. 2025 Jun 25:S0196-6553(25)00434-1. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.06.016. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Haillie C Meek¹, Stacey Konkle², Belinda Ostrowsky³, Eli S Rosenberg⁴, Karen Southwick⁵, Sarah Kogut⁵, Monica Quinn⁵, Ernest J Clement⁵, Emily Lutterloh⁴

Affiliations

¹ New York State Department of Health, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York. Electronic address: Haillie.meek@health.ny.gov.
² New York State Department of Health, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York; Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York.
³ Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York.
⁴ New York State Department of Health, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York.
⁵ New York State Department of Health, University at Albany College of Integrated Health Sciences, State University of New York.

PMID: 40578439
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2025.06.016

Abstract

Background: Candida (Candidozyma) auris, a multidrug resistant organism, can cause severe, invasive infections. We characterized C. auris epidemiology in New York before and during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods: Multiple statewide databases were linked to assess demographic and clinical characteristics and outcomes among C. auris screening cases (patients tested for colonization screening) and clinical cases (patients tested to diagnose disease). Cases diagnosed during 2017-2022 were divided into four phases and compared, including pre-COVID-19, first wave, ongoing mitigation, and vaccine era. Joinpoint analysis was used to assess monthly percentage change (MPC) and significant temporal trends among clinical cases.

Results: During the first wave, higher proportions of C. auris cases were among Black and Hispanic patients (clinical and screening), patients from high social vulnerability index neighborhoods (clinical), and patients aged <60 years (screening), compared with pre-COVID-19. Increased proportions of Hispanic patients and those aged <60 years among screening cases persisted through ongoing mitigation and vaccine era. MPC of clinical cases was stable throughout the analysis period at 1.97%, and no significant joinpoints were observed.

Conclusions: The influx of COVID-19 hospitalizations might have driven shifts in characteristics of clinical and screening C. auris cases. Clinical C. auris incidence increased during 2017-2022, but the incidence slope did not increase during or after the onset of COVID-19.

Keywords: COVID-19; Candida auris; emerging diseases; infection control; multidrug resistance.