Liquid-Infused Silicone Catheters Reduce Fungal Burden and Inflammation in <i>Candidozyma auris</i> Bladder Infections

This research addresses the critical public health challenge posed by the emergence of <i>Candidozyma auris,</i> elucidating its pathogenesis in the urinary tract, the second most common yet understudied reservoir. Here, we find that <i>C. auris</i> exhibits plasticity in its ability to form biofilms in urine and cause uncomplicated UTIs and catheter-associated UTIs. Importantly, we show that our liquid-infused silicone (LIS)-catheters effectively disrupt this cycle by reducing fungal burden, preventing systemic spread, and dampening the damaging host inflammatory response. This work establishes the urinary tract as a critical niche for systemic entry and provides a validated strategy for infection prevention.