A silent threat is lurking in hospitals—and the CDC says it’s spreading fast
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It’s not always the most obvious health threat that puts us at risk.
Sometimes, danger hides in the places meant to keep us safe—like hospitals.
A new report from health officials is now sounding the alarm about a fast-spreading threat that doesn’t come from a virus or bacteria, but from a fungus that’s becoming harder and harder to treat.
A Growing Concern: What You Should Know About Candida Auris
The fungus making headlines is Candida auris, or C. auris—a rare but serious infection that’s now spreading rapidly across US hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled it an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat," meaning it’s both dangerous and increasingly difficult to treat with existing medications.
Originally identified in the US in 2016, C. auris has shown a dramatic increase in cases, with major outbreaks recently reported in Georgia and Florida, and a new hospital study in Miami revealing that infections in that system have “rapidly increased.”
The biggest concern? The fungus can live on surfaces like bed rails, countertops, and medical equipment—making it alarmingly good at sticking around and spreading in healthcare settings.
Who’s Most at Risk?
Most healthy individuals can fight off C. auris without symptoms, but for vulnerable patients—especially those using catheters, breathing tubes, or feeding tubes—the stakes are much higher.
“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,” said Melissa Nolan, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina.
Symptoms can include fever, chills, and signs similar to other infections, making it hard to detect early.
For immunocompromised patients, it can be life-threatening, especially if the infection spreads into the bloodstream.
Why It's So Hard to Contain
One of the biggest challenges with C. auris is how easily it spreads—and how resistant it is.
Standard disinfectants may not be enough. The fungus has already been found in all but 12 US states, with major spikes between 2022 and 2023.
States with the highest number of clinical cases include:
C. auris has proven it can survive typical cleaning routines.
“So if you have it on a patient’s bed for example, on the railing, and you go to wipe everything down, if in whatever way maybe a couple of pathogens didn’t get cleared, then they’re becoming resistant. And so over time, they can kind of grow and populate in that hospital environment,” Nolan explained.
Have you or someone you know been affected by a hospital-acquired infection? Are you concerned about the rise of antibiotic-resistant organisms like C. auris? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below.
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Sometimes, danger hides in the places meant to keep us safe—like hospitals.
A new report from health officials is now sounding the alarm about a fast-spreading threat that doesn’t come from a virus or bacteria, but from a fungus that’s becoming harder and harder to treat.
A Growing Concern: What You Should Know About Candida Auris
The fungus making headlines is Candida auris, or C. auris—a rare but serious infection that’s now spreading rapidly across US hospitals and long-term care facilities.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled it an “urgent antimicrobial resistance threat," meaning it’s both dangerous and increasingly difficult to treat with existing medications.
Candida auris, a drug-resistant fungus, is spreading rapidly in US hospitals and nursing homes. Image source: Adhy Savala / Unsplash
Originally identified in the US in 2016, C. auris has shown a dramatic increase in cases, with major outbreaks recently reported in Georgia and Florida, and a new hospital study in Miami revealing that infections in that system have “rapidly increased.”
The biggest concern? The fungus can live on surfaces like bed rails, countertops, and medical equipment—making it alarmingly good at sticking around and spreading in healthcare settings.
Who’s Most at Risk?
Most healthy individuals can fight off C. auris without symptoms, but for vulnerable patients—especially those using catheters, breathing tubes, or feeding tubes—the stakes are much higher.
“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,” said Melissa Nolan, assistant professor of epidemiology at the University of South Carolina.
Symptoms can include fever, chills, and signs similar to other infections, making it hard to detect early.
For immunocompromised patients, it can be life-threatening, especially if the infection spreads into the bloodstream.
Why It's So Hard to Contain
One of the biggest challenges with C. auris is how easily it spreads—and how resistant it is.
Standard disinfectants may not be enough. The fungus has already been found in all but 12 US states, with major spikes between 2022 and 2023.
States with the highest number of clinical cases include:
- New York (1,795)
- California (1,566)
- Illinois (1,627)
- Florida (1,485)
- Nevada (1,008)
- Texas (750)
C. auris has proven it can survive typical cleaning routines.
“So if you have it on a patient’s bed for example, on the railing, and you go to wipe everything down, if in whatever way maybe a couple of pathogens didn’t get cleared, then they’re becoming resistant. And so over time, they can kind of grow and populate in that hospital environment,” Nolan explained.
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