Development and Validation of a Real-Time PCR Assay for Rapid Detection of Candida auris from Surveillance Samples

is an emerging multidrug-resistant yeast causing invasive health care-associated infection with high mortality worldwide. Rapid identification of is of primary importance for the implementation of public health measures to control the spread of infection. To achieve these goals, we developed and validated a TaqMan-based real-time PCR assay targeting the internal transcribed spacer 2 ( 2) region of the ribosomal gene. The assay was highly specific, reproducible, and sensitive, with the detection limit of 1 CFU/PCR. The performance of the real-time PCR assay was evaluated by using 623 surveillance samples, including 365 patient swabs and 258 environmental sponges. Real-time PCR yielded positive results from 49 swab and 58 sponge samples, with 89% and 100% clinical sensitivity with regard to their respective culture-positive results. The real-time PCR also detected DNA from 1% and 12% of swab and sponge samples with culture-negative results, indicating the presence of dead or culture-impaired The real-time PCR yielded results within 4 h of sample processing, compared to 4 to 14 days for culture, reducing turnaround time significantly. The new real-time PCR assay allows for accurate and rapid screening of and can increase effective control and prevention of this emerging multidrug-resistant fungal pathogen in health care facilities.