We hereby present the case of a 53-year-old HIV-positive man who had poor adherence to antiretroviral treatment for 15 years. He was referred to the hospital due to weight loss, skin lesions suggestive of Kaposi's sarcoma, poor general health, and confusion. After a lumbar puncture, treatment for meningeal tuberculosis was initiated on an empirical basis. A few days later he developed fever and, due to several risk factors, fungemia was suspected. After the fungus was isolated in blood culture, special tests were performed for definitive identification. Despite treatment, the patient died of fungemia due to a non-Candida yeast-like fungus, which has a high mortality rate in this patient group.

Candida infections are among the most common fungal diseases globally, with candidemia posing a serious threat in hospitalized and immunocompromised patients. In Portugal, though Candida albicans is the predominant species identified, other species such as Candida parapsilosis and Nakaseomyces glabratus (formerly Candida glabrata) are increasingly detected, particularly in intensive care units and patients with invasive devices. Emerging multidrug-resistant strains, notably Candidozyma auris (formerly Candida auris), have raised significant concern, with the first Portuguese cases reported recently. Surveillance studies suggest that antifungal resistance rates are generally low, though fluconazole resistance in C. parapsilosis is a concern, since ERG11 mutations were recently detected in several isolates. Echinocandins are recommended as first-line therapy, yet availability is uneven across healthcare centers. Beyond candidemia, superficial infections like vulvovaginal candidiasis and onychomycosis remain highly frequent. Different research groups in Portugal have been conducting active research into Candida biology, virulence and novel therapies. Strengthening surveillance, rapid diagnostics, molecular identification, and infection control measures, alongside mandatory notification of C. auris, are critical for effective management. Integrated strategies under a "One Health" framework are essential to mitigate morbidity, mortality, and resistance trends associated with Candida infections.