Thousands of clinical cases of the drug-resistant fungus Candida auris have been documented across 27 U.S. states so far in 2026, according to provisional data released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of the week ending July 25, the CDC recorded 3,437 clinical cases nationwide, highlighting an emerging public health concern tied to healthcare facilities.
State-by-State Breakdown of Candida Auris Cases
Geographic distribution varies widely across the country, with California reporting the highest burden at 873 cases—accounting for roughly one-quarter of the national total, according to CDC figures. Texas follows with 433 cases, while Tennessee documented 283 and Ohio recorded 279.
Additional states with notable case counts include Georgia with 193, Louisiana with 179, Illinois with 171, and Arizona with 171. Michigan reported 146 cases, Virginia documented 132, and Pennsylvania logged 121. According to the CDC, all other affected states have fewer than 100 cases each.
Transmission and Healthcare Facility Risks
Candida auris is a type of yeast that primarily causes serious infections in hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare environments. According to the CDC, the fungus can survive on inanimate surfaces for prolonged periods and is highly transmissible between patients through contact with contaminated objects like bedrails, doorknobs, and shared medical equipment.
Transmission also occurs through individuals who carry the fungus without exhibiting symptoms, a state known as colonization. Dr. Marc Siegel, a clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone and Fox News senior medical analyst, notes that the pathogen spreads efficiently on medical equipment used on vulnerable patients.
“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, such as ventilators and catheters,” Siegel stated previously.
Did You Know? Clinical cases tracked by the CDC represent the detection of Candida auris in a specimen collected during routine medical care, which means some specimens indicate asymptomatic colonization rather than a severe, active infection.
Vulnerable Populations and Severity of Infection
Severe underlying medical conditions dramatically increase a patient’s risk of developing an invasive infection. Individuals who utilize breathing tubes, feeding tubes, intravenous lines, or catheters are significantly more vulnerable, particularly if they experience frequent or prolonged hospitalizations, per CDC guidance. Individuals without these specific risk factors are unlikely to become colonized or infected.
When invasive infections do occur, they can affect the bloodstream and are associated with mortality rates ranging from 30% to 72%. However, the CDC emphasizes that most affected patients are already suffering from serious underlying illnesses, making it difficult to isolate the fungus as the direct cause of death.
Antifungal Drug Resistance and Treatment Challenges
The CDC classifies Candida auris as an urgent antimicrobial-resistance threat because standard treatments frequently fail. More than 90% of U.S. samples show resistance to fluconazole, a common antifungal medication. Echinocandins currently serve as the primary treatment option, though certain strains have developed resistance to all three main classes of antifungals.
“This is part of a much larger problem of emerging antibiotic resistance in the U.S. and around the world,” Siegel cautioned, adding that rigorous sterilization and disinfection measures in hospitals remain vital. Major research efforts are currently underway to develop new therapeutic options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Candida auris?
Candida auris is a drug-resistant type of yeast that can cause severe infections, particularly among vulnerable patients in healthcare settings.
How does Candida auris spread?
The fungus spreads primarily through contact with contaminated surfaces, medical equipment, or through colonized individuals who show no symptoms of illness.
Who is most at risk?
Patients with severe underlying medical conditions who require breathing tubes, feeding tubes, catheters, or long-term hospital stays face the highest risk.
What are the main symptoms?
Symptoms often include fever, chills, and aches, which can easily be mistaken for other types of infections.
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