The Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor has developed a test for diagnosing Candida auris—a pathogenic yeast fungus that causes hospital-acquired infections.
Rospotrebnadzor noted that the pathogen’s prolonged viability in unfavorable conditions underpins its persistence in hospital settings.
“Candida auris exhibits high resistance to most antifungal drugs, including fluconazole and amphotericin B, and can cause serious complications, particularly in immunocompromised individuals,” the agency stated. “The pathogen causes invasive infection with rapid development of sepsis and organ damage; as a result, the fatality rate can reach 30–60%.”
Rospotrebnadzor explained that the new test, which uses the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method, offers high sensitivity and a rapid result—in just 30 minutes. “All this enables early diagnosis and the prompt initiation of therapy, which is critically important for saving patients,” the agency summarized.
The test was developed as part of the federal project “Sanitary Shield of the Country — Safety for Health (Prevention, Detection, Response).”