Mortality of Candida auris candidemia compared with non-auris candidemia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND

Candida auris has emerged as a globally significant healthcare-associated fungal pathogen. Although descriptive studies have reported high mortality for candidemia caused by C. auris, whether the mortality differs from non-auris candidemia remains unclear. We conducted this meta-analysis to compare the mortality between patients with C. auris and non-auris candidemia.

METHODS

We searched PubMed (including MEDLINE), Embase, and Web of Science databases for relevant studies published before June 2026. A random-effects model was used for meta-analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 16 articles were included in this meta-analysis. In the pooled crude analysis, mortality was significantly lower in patients with C. auris candidemia than in those with non-auris candidemia (OR = 0.77, 95% CI 0.67-0.90). Subgroup analyses showed significant geographic variation (P for interaction = 0.019), with lower mortality observed in studies from Turkey, the Middle East and the Americas, but not in South Asia and Africa. Despite lower mortality, C. auris candidemia was associated with prolonged hospitalization in descriptive analysis.

CONCLUSION

In this meta-analysis of crude estimates, mortality was significantly lower in patients with C. auris candidemia than in those with non-auris candidemia. However, prolonged hospitalization in C. auris infection highlights its medical resource burden. For clinicians, management of C. auris candidemia should focus on timely diagnosis, appropriate antifungal therapy, and strengthened infection prevention, especially in cases of long-term hospitalization.