Key Points:
- Over 7,000 cases in 2025, with 30–60% mortality in high-risk patients.
- Some strains resist all major antifungal treatments.
- Climate change may aid its spread; strict hygiene and early detection are vital.
A drug-resistant fungus known as Candida auris has infected at least seven thousand people across the United States in 2025, straining hospitals as cases surge in California and other states, according to federal health officials.
Hospitals, nursing homes and long-term care facilities are struggling to control Candida auris, a deadly fungus that spreads easily in health care settings and resists common treatments. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that cases this year are nearing last year’s record high, with more than half of U.S. states affected.
Hospitals Struggle as Drug Resistance Limits Treatment Options
First identified in the United States in 2016, Candida auris has become one of the most concerning healthcare–associated infections. The fungus can survive on surfaces for weeks and spreads through contact with contaminated equipment, including catheters, breathing tubes and intravenous lines.
Some strains are resistant to all major antifungal drugs, earning the label “superbug.” While healthy people may fight off the infection, it poses a serious threat to patients who are already ill.
“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,” said Melissa Nolan, an assistant professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of South Carolina. “You’re all on your own.”
The CDC estimates that based on limited patient data, between 30% and 60% of people with Candida auris infections have died. Many of those patients had underlying conditions that increased their risk, the agency said.
Cases Rise Nationwide, With California Among Hardest Hit
More than half of U.S. states reported clinical cases of Candida auris in 2025, according to CDC tracking. With one week of data remaining, the national case count is approaching last year’s total of more than 7,500 infections.
California has reported more than 1,500 cases this year, second only to Nevada. Data was unavailable for Alabama and Florida, though both states have previously reported outbreaks.
A study published in July focusing primarily on cases in Nevada and Florida found severe outcomes among infected patients. More than half required admission to an intensive care unit, and over one-third needed mechanical ventilation. More than half also required blood transfusions.
The study reported that patients had an average age between 60 and 64, highlighting the elevated risk among older adults and those with chronic illness.
Scientists Point to Climate Change as Possible Factor
Some researchers believe climate change may be contributing to the spread of Candida auris and similar pathogens. Historically, most fungi struggled to survive at human body temperature, offering people a natural defense.
“We have tremendous protection against environmental fungi because of our temperature,” said Arturo Casadevall, a microbiologist and professor at Johns Hopkins University. “However, if the world is getting warmer and the fungi begin to adapt to higher temperatures as well, some are going to reach what I call the temperature barrier.”
Once fungi adapt to higher temperatures, Casadevall said, they may be able to survive inside the human body and cause disease more easily.
Health officials emphasize the importance of strict infection control practices, including thorough cleaning of medical equipment and early detection of cases, to slow the spread.
The CDC continues to monitor outbreaks and urges health care facilities to remain vigilant as cases continue to rise nationwide.
