Candida auris is rendered non-viable by medium-chain fatty acids

Abstract

The medium-chain fatty acids, octanoic and decanoic acid, found in coconut oil, were fungistatic and decanoic acid was fungicidal against a panel of Candida auris strains, during both planktonic and biofilm growth. The strains were from all four major geographic clades, and some were resistant to several classes of antifungal drugs. These compounds are safe, natural products and could provide a new strategy for skin decolonization and environmental decontamination.