Rise of Drug-Resistant Fungus Candida Auris in the U.S.

Thousands of cases of a potentially deadly, drug-resistant fungus have been reported across 27 states in 2026, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Up to July 25, there were 3,437 clinical cases of Candida auris (C. auris) documented in the United States.

California recorded the highest number of cases, totaling 873, which constitutes roughly a quarter of the nation’s total. Other states with significant counts include Texas (433), Tennessee (283), and Ohio (279). The CDC also reported notable case numbers in Georgia, Louisiana, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. Other states had fewer than 100 cases each.

Candida auris is a yeast that can cause severe infections, typically in healthcare settings like hospitals and nursing homes.

This fungus can survive on surfaces for long durations and is easily transmitted through contact with contaminated surfaces or objects. It spreads through items like bedrails, doorknobs, and shared medical equipment. People carrying the fungus without showing symptoms, known as “colonization,” can also contribute to its spread.

The CDC classifies a clinical case as the detection of C. auris in a specimen collected during routine medical care. These specimens may indicate colonization rather than true infection. The fungus’s health effects range from symptomless colonization to potentially fatal invasive infections, including bloodstream infections.

Individuals at higher risk include patients with severe underlying health conditions. Those using breathing tubes, feeding tubes, IVs, or catheters face greater vulnerability. Patients frequently hospitalized or spending extended periods in medical facilities are also at risk. People without such risk factors are unlikely to become colonized or develop infections.

Dr. Marc Siegel, a Fox News senior medical analyst and clinical professor at NYU Langone, expressed significant concern regarding C. auris. “It is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs and tends to spread in hospital settings,” he stated. Equipment used on immunocompromised patients, such as ventilators and catheters, may facilitate its transmission.

C. auris infections exhibit mortality rates ranging from 30% to 72%. Most patients affected are already quite ill, complicating the identification of the direct cause of death. The CDC categorizes C. auris as an “urgent antimicrobial-resistance threat” due to its resistance to antifungal medications. More than 90% of U.S. samples resist fluconazole, a widely used antifungal. Currently, echinocandins serve as the primary treatment option, although some strains resist all three main antifungal classes.

Significant research is ongoing to develop new treatments. Sterilization and disinfection in hospitals are critical measures to combat the spread. Dr. Siegel highlighted this as part of a more extensive antibiotic resistance challenge globally.