CDC data show 3,437 Candida auris cases in 27 U.S. states through the week ending July 25 — about 1,000 fewer than the same time last year. The fungus spreads easily in health care settings, can persist on surfaces, and mainly threatens the elderly, immunocompromised and patients with invasive devices. Most samples resist fluconazole, but echinocandins remain effective for most infections; estimated mortality ranges from 30% to 60%, though many affected patients are already critically ill.
Candida auris Found in 27 U.S. States: What Patients and Care Facilities Need to Know
Nicolas Armer/dpa/picture alliance via Getty Images - PHOTO: The director of the National Reference Centre for Invasive Fungus Infections, Oliver Kurzai, holds a petri dish holding the yeast candida auris in a laboratory of Wuerzburg University in Wuerzburg, Germany, January 23, 2018.
Federal health officials report that the yeast Candida auris (C. auris) has been detected in 27 U.S. states so far this year, posing an ongoing concern for hospitals and long-term care facilities. As of the week ending July 25, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recorded 3,437 cases — roughly 1,000 fewer than the 4,290 cases reported at the same point last year.
California has reported the most cases (873), followed by Texas (433) and Tennessee (283). Public health experts say the annual number of C. auris detections continues to grow year to year, but the pace of increase has slowed since 2022.
About C. auris
C. auris is a type of yeast that can cause a range of infections, from skin colonization to serious, life-threatening bloodstream infections. It spreads readily among very ill patients in healthcare settings and can persist on surfaces and equipment for extended periods.
How It Spreads and Who Is At Risk
People who are actively infected or who carry C. auris on their skin or other body sites without symptoms can transmit it to others. The fungus survives on surfaces such as bedrails and doorknobs and can move between patients via contaminated hands, equipment, or the environment.
Most healthy people are at low risk. The highest risk groups include patients who are critically ill, residents of nursing homes, and anyone with invasive medical devices such as catheters or breathing tubes. Immunocompromised individuals are also at increased risk of hard-to-treat infection.
Drug Resistance and Treatment
An analysis by the CDC of 8,033 C. auris samples collected in 2022–2023 found that more than 95% were resistant to fluconazole (a commonly used first-line antifungal), about 15% were resistant to amphotericin B, roughly 1% were resistant to echinocandins, and fewer than 1% showed resistance to all three major antifungal drug classes. Currently, most C. auris infections remain treatable with echinocandin-class drugs, which are considered first-line therapy for invasive disease.
Outcomes and Mortality
Available studies are limited, but reported mortality among patients with C. auris infections ranges from about 30% to 60%. Because many patients who acquire C. auris are already seriously ill, the CDC cautions that it can be difficult to determine how much the fungus itself contributed to individual deaths versus other underlying conditions.
Prevention: What Health Facilities and Patients Can Do
- Healthcare facilities should follow strict infection-control practices, including hand hygiene, patient screening, contact precautions, and thorough environmental cleaning.
- Use EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectants known to be effective against C. auris for surface cleaning.
- Patients and visitors should practice good hand hygiene and follow facility guidance on visitation and protective measures when a facility reports C. auris cases.
- Clinicians should consider screening high-risk patients and promptly notify public health authorities when C. auris is detected.
For the most current guidance and data, consult the CDC's resources on Candida auris and local public health advisories.
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