<i>Candida auris</i> colonization among critically ill neonatal intensive care unit patients in Dhaka, Bangladesh

ABSTRACT Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant yeast causing invasive infection and healthcare-associated outbreaks globally. We aimed to estimate the extent of C. auris colonization and infection among neonates in selected neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) in Dhaka City. We conducted a prospective study from August 2021 to September 2022. Skin swabs and blood samples were collected from NICU patients. C. auris was identified using CHROMagar and VITEK-2. Patient characteristics and healthcare histories were recorded. Of 374 patients enrolled, 32 (9%) were colonized with C. auris , and one (0.3%) developed a bloodstream infection (BSI). The median age of the enrolled patients was 4 days (IQR: 2–8); 60% were male. Among the colonized patients, 44% (14/32) were colonized at enrollment, and…