A deadly and drug-resistant fungus, Candida auris, is making headlines again as its cases spread across 17 states.
See the tweet below!
Identified less than a decade ago, this fungus poses a serious health threat due to its resistance to antifungal medications and its tendency to spread in healthcare settings.
Health experts are on high alert as Candida auris, a dangerous and drug-resistant fungus, continues to spread across the United States.
Since its first identification in the country less than ten years ago, cases have increased annually.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported 1,052 cases of Candida auris in 2025 alone, with Texas accounting for about a quarter of these cases.
In addition to Texas, significant case numbers have been reported in Michigan, Ohio, Virginia, and Arizona.
The fungus has also been detected in Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Montana, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Utah, and Wisconsin.
The CDC has labeled Candida auris an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat,” underscoring the seriousness of this fungal invasion.
This problematic fungus is notoriously hard to treat due to its resistance to traditional antifungal medications.
High-risk individuals, such as those with catheters, breathing tubes, feeding tubes, and PICC lines, are especially at risk due to their weakened immune systems.
C. auris primarily spreads in healthcare settings and can persist on surfaces for extended periods, making it even more challenging to control.
Infections with Candida auris can have dire outcomes. CDC data suggests that, based on information from a limited number of patients, 30–60% of people with C. auris infections have died.
Many of the affected individuals had other serious illnesses that increased their risk of death.
While the numbers are alarming, informed vigilance and stringent infection control in healthcare facilities can help mitigate its spread.
Tackling this threat will require coordinated efforts across state and federal health agencies.
The public must remain informed and prepared as this new frontier in fungal threats challenges modern medicine.
As long as Candida auris remains an issue within healthcare environments, it is essential to implement comprehensive strategies to manage and contain this persistent fungal adversary.
The deadly and drug-resistant fungus Candida auris is under close surveillance as health experts work to calm its spread. https://t.co/2SgYdPCjzr
— WLNS Newsroom (@WLNS) May 11, 2025
