Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus that has spread rapidly through U.S. healthcare facilities since it was first reported in 2016, continues to accelerate at a troubling pace, according to new federal and academic research. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and public health experts now consider the pathogen an urgent antimicrobial threat due to its persistence, transmissibility, and resistance to treatment.
The number of clinical cultures testing positive for C. auris has increased by over 500% since 2019, with more than 4,500 clinical cases reported in 2023 alone, CDC data shows. In a study published March 17 in the American Journal of Infection Control, researchers from the University of Miami found that the volume of clinical cultures containing C. auris rose by:
- 580% from 2019 to 2020
- 251% in 2021
- 46% in 2022
- 7% in 2023
"The volumes of clinical cultures with C. auris have rapidly increased, accompanied by an expansion in the sources of infection," the authors concluded.
C. auris primarily impacts patients with serious underlying health conditions who rely on invasive medical devices like ventilators, catheters, or feeding tubes. It is transmitted via direct contact with infected individuals or contaminated surfaces and equipment, often persisting on those surfaces for weeks despite rigorous disinfection protocols.
"Many of the disinfectants that are EPA-registered and historically used by hospitals and medical facilities are not effective against C. auris," said JoAnna Wagner, an official with the Georgia Department of Public Health. As of February, Georgia alone had confirmed more than 1,300 cases.
This is an "emerging problem of great concern," Dr. Marc Siegel, clinical professor at NYU Langone and Fox News medical analyst, said in an interview. "It is resistant to multiple antifungal drugs, and it tends to spread in hospital settings, including on equipment being used on immunocompromised and semi-immunocompromised patients."
Siegel warned that symptoms of C. auris - including fever, chills, and general discomfort - can mimic more common infections, making diagnosis difficult. "Major research" is ongoing to develop new treatments, he added. "This is part of a much larger problem of emerging antibiotic resistance in the U.S. and around the world."
Melissa Nolan, a professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina, highlighted the risks for patients who contract untreatable strains. "If you get infected with this pathogen that's resistant to any treatment, there's no treatment we can give you to help combat it. You're all on your own."
The CDC estimates the mortality rate for infected individuals to range between 30% and 60%. The pathogen has been identified in more than 30 countries and shows no signs of containment.
While healthy individuals are generally not at risk, healthcare workers are advised to follow strict infection control practices. Preventative strategies include:
- Rigorous handwashing
- Routine disinfection of hospital surfaces
- Sterilization of all medical equipment
- Isolating infected patients
- Enhanced screening of at-risk individuals
According to the CDC, C. auris does not spread through airborne transmission but rather through direct contact with contaminated people or objects.
