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

BACKGROUND

Candida auris causes severe, invasive infections. We characterized C. auris epidemiology in New York before and during the coronavirus disease 2019 (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 (pre-COVID-19, first wave, ongoing mitigation, and vaccine era ) and compared. Joinpoint analysis was used to assess monthly percentage change (MPC) and 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 (1.97%), and there were no significant joinpoints.

CONCLUSIONS

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.