CDC reports over 3,000 Candida auris cases in 23 states

A drug-resistant fungus posing a serious threat to hospitalized patients has been reported in at least 23 U.S. states, with thousands of clinical cases recorded so far in 2026. Federal surveillance data indicates more than 3,000 confirmed infections this year, concentrated among severely ill individuals in healthcare facilities.

The fungus, Candida auris, is classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat. It primarily spreads within hospitals, long-term acute care hospitals, and skilled nursing facilities through contact with contaminated surfaces, medical equipment, or the hands of caregivers. The pathogen can persist for weeks on bed rails, blood pressure cuffs, and other surfaces, facilitating its spread, especially when patients transfer between facilities.

Texas has reported the highest number of cases, with over 700 as of mid-July, followed by Michigan with 503 and Illinois with 366. Other states, including California, Ohio, and Tennessee, have also reported significant numbers. The CDC notes that while annual case counts have risen steadily since the fungus was first identified in the United States in 2016, the...