Epidemiology, clinical characteristics, resistance, and treatment of infections by .

spp infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality in critically ill patients. is an emerging multi-drug-resistant fungus that is rapidly spreading worldwide. Since the first reports in 2009, many isolates across five continents have been identified as agents of hospital-associated infections. Independent and simultaneous outbreaks of are becoming a major concern for healthcare and scientific community. Moreover, laboratory misidentification and multi-drug-resistant profiles, rarely observed for other non-albicans species, result in difficult eradication and frequent therapeutic failures of infections. The aim of this review was to provide an updated and comprehensive report of the global spread of , focusing on clinical and microbiological characteristics, mechanisms of virulence and antifungal resistance, and efficacy of available control, preventive, and therapeutic strategies.