Candida auris growing in culture. C. auris is a yeast (single-celled fungus) that was first identified in 2009. It causes serious multidrug-resistant infections in hospitalised patients and has high mortality rates. It causes bloodstream, wound and ear infections and has also been isolated from respiratory and urine specimens. Most C. auris infections are treatable with antifungals from the echinocandin group of drugs.