# Candida auris screening, positivity trends, and patient characteristics at the University of Kentucky between 2021 and 2024

## TL;DR

A screening program for Candida auris at the University of Kentucky found a low positivity rate, with most cases becoming community-acquired over time.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates the shift in Candida auris cases from healthcare-associated to community-onset following a screening program.

## Key findings

- The positivity rate for Candida auris was 0.96%.
- Community-onset cases increased from 8% to 54% after the screening program was implemented.
- No significant differences were found in patient characteristics between colonization and infection cases.

## Abstract

We evaluated a targeted Candida auris screening program, which revealed a 0.96% positivity rate. The proportion of community-onset cases increased from 8% to 54% following implementation. No significant differences in demographic or clinical characteristics were observed between patients with colonization and those with infection.