Candidozyma auris Prosthetic Joint Infection: A Case Report and Systematic Case-Based Literature Review of Osteoarticular Infections

Candidozyma auris, recently taxonomically reclassified, represents an emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen that has evolved into a critical nosocomial and global public health threat. This organism exhibits a profound capacity for resilient biofilm formation on biotic and abiotic surfaces, leading to severe systemic infections with highly constrained therapeutic options. This report describes a rare, highly challenging case of a C. auris-associated prosthetic joint infection (PJI) in a diabetic patient, representing the 5th analogous documented case (and the 17th osteoarticular infection overall) in the medical literature. The clinical course was characterized by an initial failure to respond to standard echinocandin monotherapy, necessitating the escalation to a synergistic combination regimen. Although temporary microbiological and clinical clearance was achieved, the patient ultimately succumbed to multi-organ failure secondary to a subsequent Gram-negative septic outbreak. Fungal PJIs remain rare clinical entities associated with extreme morbidity and treatment failure. This systematic review emphasizes the crucial need for enhanced infection control strategies and specialized therapeutic protocols as C. auris infections continue to rise within everyday clinical environments.