Drug-Resistant Fungus Candida auris Confirmed in 27 States With 3,437 Cases Reported

Federal health authorities documented 3,437 clinical cases of Candida auris across 27 states through the week ending July 25, according to provisional data from the CDC. The fungal pathogen poses particular risk in hospital and nursing home settings, where its capacity to persist on surfaces and transmit between patients has fueled its geographic expansion this year.

California leads the nation with 873 confirmed cases, representing approximately one-quarter of the U.S. total. Texas follows with 433 cases, while Tennessee, Ohio, Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, Virginia and Pennsylvania each reported between 100 and 300 cases, according to CDC figures. The remaining affected states each documented fewer than 100 cases individually.

Candida auris thrives in healthcare environments where it can survive on equipment such as bedrails, doorknobs and medical devices for extended periods. The fungus spreads through direct contact with contaminated surfaces and objects, and individuals who harbor the microorganism without displaying symptoms can also transmit it to others through what epidemiologists call colonization.

The infection most severely threatens patients with compromised immune systems or serious underlying medical conditions. Those dependent on ventilators, feeding tubes, intravenous lines or catheters face heightened vulnerability, as do patients with prolonged or frequent hospitalizations. Individuals without these risk factors rarely acquire or develop symptomatic disease from the organism.

Candida auris infections range in severity from asymptomatic colonization to life-threatening bloodstream infections. Mortality rates for invasive cases reach 30 to 72 percent, though attribution remains difficult because most affected patients already suffer from critical illness. Fever, chills and general body aches may closely resemble other infections, complicating early diagnosis.

The CDC has designated Candida auris an urgent antimicrobial-resistance threat due to widespread antifungal resistance among strains. More than 90 percent of U.S. samples demonstrate resistance to fluconazole, a standard antifungal medication. While echinocandins currently serve as the primary treatment option, certain strains exhibit resistance to all three major classes of antifungal drugs.

Medical experts emphasize that enhanced sterilization and disinfection protocols in hospitals can limit transmission. Ongoing research initiatives aim to develop novel therapeutic approaches to combat resistant variants. The emergence of Candida auris reflects a broader escalation in antimicrobial-resistant pathogens affecting healthcare systems nationwide and internationally.