A drug-resistant fungus known as Candida auris is spreading across the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported clinical cases in at least 27 states this year. A newly released map based on federal surveillance data highlights areas with severe outbreaks, with some states reporting hundreds of cases. As of July 25, more than 3,400 clinical cases have been reported among U.S. residents according to the CDC’s National Notifiable Diseases Surveillance System.
Health officials are monitoring Candida auris closely as it can resist multiple antifungal medications and spreads easily in hospitals and other healthcare facilities caring for vulnerable patients. Though it poses little risk to most healthy individuals, it can cause severe infections in those with weakened immune systems or other underlying conditions. The CDC has labeled C. auris an emerging public health threat due to a steady increase in cases as the fungus becomes established in healthcare settings nationwide.
What Is Candida Auris?
Candida auris is a species of yeast capable of causing serious infections. It was first identified in 2009 and has raised concern among public health officials due to its resistance to multiple antifungal drugs, complicating treatment. It can lead to various illnesses, from skin and wound infections to severe bloodstream infections, particularly in medically vulnerable patients. C. auris spreads readily in healthcare settings and can survive on surfaces and medical equipment for extended periods. The CDC considers it an urgent public health threat and collaborates with hospitals and public health agencies to curb its transmission.
How Common Is Candida Auris?
While C. auris remains relatively rare in the general population, cases have increased significantly in the U.S. over the past decade. The CDC noted 6,304 clinical cases nationwide in 2024, continuing a trend that started after its detection in the U.S. in 2013. The pathogen is expanding its reach into more healthcare facilities. In 2025, the U.S. saw 4,290 cases of C. auris. This year, there have been 3,437 cases in 27 states.
States reporting infections include Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. California has reported the highest number of infections at 873, followed by Texas with 433, based on data through late July. Most infections occur in settings such as hospitals and long-term care facilities caring for patients with significant health challenges. However, experts emphasize that healthy individuals generally face low infection risk.
How Is Candida Auris Contracted?
Candida auris spreads mainly through contact with contaminated surfaces or medical equipment, as well as infected or colonized patients in healthcare settings. The fungus can persist on surfaces like bed rails and medical devices for weeks, facilitating patient-to-patient transmission if strict infection-control measures are not enforced. Those at highest risk include individuals already seriously ill, those with weakened immune systems, or those needing complex medical care. Patients using ventilators, feeding tubes, or catheters are particularly vulnerable as the fungus can enter the body through these devices causing invasive infections. Many carriers of C. auris show no symptoms but can still spread it, complicating outbreak control in places like hospitals and nursing homes.