More than 3,100 cases of the drug-resistant, deadly fungus Candida auris have been reported across 23 states this year, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Texas has reported the most infections this year, with 715 cases, followed by Michigan with 518 and Illinois with more than 350, according to CDC data through the week ending July 25. The nationwide total of 3,100-plus cases is nearly in line with the 3,348 cases reported during the same period last year.
Michigan’s currently high case count comes as the state also recorded the nation’s first two deaths linked to the foodborne parasite Cyclospora this year, though the two outbreaks are unrelated.
Candida auris, which was first detected in the U.S. in 2013, grows as a yeast that mostly spreads in hospitals and long-term care facilities, putting patients with serious underlying health conditions at the greatest risk.
The fungus can survive long periods on surfaces and medical equipment while also resisting many commonly used disinfectants and antifungal medications, making it difficult to treat. It primarily threatens people who are already seriously ill or have weakened immune systems. According to the CDC, patients who rely on ventilators, feeding tubes, urinary catheters or central venous catheters face the greatest risk of developing an infection.
Candida auris is a potentially deadly, drug-resistant yeast that can spread easily in healthcare facilities, including through people who carry the fungus without ever becoming sick themselves. (The Lundquist Institute)
“What makes Candida auris especially concerning is its resistance profile,” Nathan Wiederhold, PharmD, director of the Fungus Testing Laboratory and professor at The University of Texas at San Antonio, told UT Health. “Many strains are resistant to azoles, one of our major antifungal drug classes, and some are also resistant to amphotericin B, which is often considered a drug of last resort.”
When symptoms do develop, they can vary depending on where the infection occurs but may include fever, chills, extreme fatigue, low blood pressure, a rapid heart rate and ear pain. Another concerning factor is that some people carry it on their skin without showing symptoms.
Because these symptoms can resemble other illnesses, laboratory testing is needed to confirm a Candida auris infection.
In healthcare settings, infected or colonized patients are typically placed in private rooms under special precautions. Healthcare workers and visitors must wear gowns and gloves, while facilities use dedicated or disposable equipment, such as blood pressure cuffs and thermometers, to avoid passing the fungus to other patients.
Facilities must also follow strict cleaning protocols to prevent transmission. Rooms must be cleaned daily and disinfected after discharge with EPA-approved products that can kill Candida auris, as many standard cleaners are ineffective against the fungus.
At home, people with Candida auris generally do not need to isolate from family members but should continue practicing good hygiene, including regular handwashing.
