How to Pronounce Candida Auris Infection

Say it like this: KAN-dih-dah AW-ris. The first part rhymes with "panda," and the second part sounds like "or" with an "iss" at the end. Put the stress on the first syllable of each word: KAN and AW.

Candida comes from a Latin word meaning "white" or "shining," which describes how this fungus looks under a microscope. The name was given to this group of fungi because of their pale, whitish appearance.

Auris is the Latin word for "ear." However, in this case it's named after the place where it was first discovered, not because it only affects the ear. Many scientific organisms are named using Latin words for geographic locations or features.

Break it like this: Can-di-da Au-ris in-fec-tion. That's 3 syllables for Candida, 2 for Auris, and 3 for infection. Counting them all together gives you 8 syllables total.

Many people stress the wrong syllable in "Candida"—they say can-DI-dah instead of KAN-dih-dah. Remember that the stress goes on the first syllable, the same way you'd say the word "panda."

Yes, medical professionals often abbreviate it as C. auris or just "Candida auris." Some people shorten the full condition name to just "C. auris infection" when speaking quickly.

An infection happens when a harmful germ—in this case a fungus—gets into your body and causes problems. The word infection comes from a Latin word meaning "to taint" or "to contaminate."

You might hear: "The hospital is taking steps to control the spread of Candida auris infection among patients." Or: "Doctors are concerned about Candida auris because it can be difficult to treat with standard antifungal medications."