A DRUG-RESISTANT FUNGUS HAS BEEN REPORTED IN 23 U.S. STATES

A drug-resistant yeast called Candida auris (C. auris) is spreading in U.S. healthcare settings. CDC data showed 3,130 screening cases across 23 states through July 18, 2026.

Importantly, screening cases can identify people who carry the organism without having an active infection, so the figure should not be interpreted as 3,130 sick patients.

The highest numbers of screening detections at that point were reported in Texas (706), Michigan (503) and Illinois (366).

C. auris can spread between patients and persist on healthcare surfaces and medical equipment, making infection-control measures especially important in hospitals and long-term-care facilities.

The organism can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening infections, particularly in people who are already seriously ill. Some strains are resistant to multiple antifungal medications.

However, healthy people generally face a much lower risk, and C. auris primarily affects people with significant healthcare-related risk factors.

 The broader trend is also concerning: the CDC reported 6,304 clinical cases in the U.S. in 2024, up from 4,523 in 2023 and 2,915 in 2022.

 How prepared are U.S. hospitals to contain drug-resistant infections like this?