A dangerous fungal infection that has quietly taken hold in U.S. hospitals is becoming even more alarming worldwide, according to a sweeping new scientific review. The pathogen, Candida auris, has shown an uncanny ability to evade medications, linger on surfaces, and overwhelm vulnerable patients, leaving researchers racing to keep pace with its evolution.
A Superbug That Continues to Outmaneuver Medicine
Candida auris, often labeled a “superbug fungus,” is spreading quickly across the globe. Scientists at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation said the pathogen is becoming more resistant to human immune defenses, heightening concerns for patients in healthcare facilities.
The review underscores earlier warnings from federal health officials that have classified C. auris as an “urgent antimicrobial threat.” It is the first fungal pathogen to receive that designation. U.S. cases rose sharply in 2025, climbing to roughly 7,000 infections across numerous states. Globally, the fungus has now been detected in at least 60 countries.
Why Candida Auris Is So Hard to Stop
The report, published in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, traces the rise of the fungus and explains why it is so difficult to contain. The authors, Dr. Neeraj Chauhan, Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary, and Dr. Michail Lionakis, warned that current tools are falling behind the pathogen’s rapid spread.
Their findings emphasize the need to develop “novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, to improve diagnostic tests and to develop immune- and vaccine-based adjunct modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients,” the researchers said.
They added that “future efforts should focus on raising awareness about fungal disease through developing better surveillance mechanisms, especially in resource-poor countries. All these developments should help improve the outcomes and prognosis of patients afflicted by opportunistic fungal infections.”
A Global Threat With Deadly Consequences
First identified in 2009 from a patient’s ear sample in Japan, Candida auris has now appeared in hospitals around the world, sometimes forcing intensive care units to temporarily close. The fungus is especially dangerous for people who are already critically ill or those with weakened immune systems. Roughly half of infected patients may die, according to some estimates.
One of the reasons the fungus spreads so easily is its ability to survive on human skin, hospital bedding, medical equipment, and other surfaces. This resilience allows it to move quickly through healthcare facilities.
“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,” Dr. Marc Siegel said earlier in the year.
Complicating matters, the fungus is often misdiagnosed. “Unfortunately, symptoms such as fever, chills and aches may be ubiquitous, and it can be mistaken for other infections,” Siegel said.
Limited Treatments, Rising Resistance
Only four major classes of antifungal drugs exist today, and Candida auris has already demonstrated resistance to many of them. Although researchers are working on new medicines, they warn that development is not keeping up with how quickly the fungus adapts.
Still, there is some hope on the horizon.
A Potential Weakness Discovered
In separate research published in December, scientists at the University of Exeter found what may be a biological vulnerability within the fungus. While studying Candida auris in a living-host model, the team discovered that the pathogen activates specific genes to scavenge iron, a nutrient it depends on for survival.
Because iron is essential for the infection to take hold, scientists believe medications that block this process could weaken or even stop it. The discovery could also allow older drugs to be repurposed in new ways.
“We think our research may have revealed an Achilles’ heel in this lethal pathogen during active infection,” Dr. Hugh Gifford said.
The Race to Contain a Growing Crisis
While researchers push forward with new treatments, health officials stress that rapid detection, strict infection control, and continued investment in antifungal drug development are crucial for slowing the spread.
Experts emphasize that Candida auris does not pose a danger to healthy individuals. The threat lies primarily in hospitals, long-term care centers, and facilities that treat medically fragile patients.
