A recent scientific review indicates potential hope for new treatments, yet drug-resistant bacteria, which are spreading quickly in U.S. hospitals, present an escalating threat globally.
Candida auris, often labeled as a “superbug,” is reportedly increasing its resistance to human immunity, according to researchers from the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) in a review released in early December.
This finding reaffirms the CDC’s earlier alert, which identified C. auris as an “emergency antimicrobial threat”—the first fungal pathogen to earn this designation—as infections rise in the U.S., particularly in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
In 2025, there were nearly 7,000 confirmed cases in several U.S. states, and the CDC reports that the fungus is identified in at least 60 countries.
Published in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, the review underscores the daunting challenges in controlling this pathogen. It cites outdated diagnostic methods and a shortage of treatment options as hindrances. The study included contributions from Dr. Neeraj Chauhan of CDI, Dr. Anuradha Chaudhary from the University of Delhi, and Dr. Michael Lionakis, who heads the Clinical Mycology Program at the National Institutes of Health.
The researchers emphasized the need to “develop new antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, enhance diagnostic tests, and create immune- and vaccine-based therapies for high-risk patients.” They also suggested a greater focus on raising awareness about fungal diseases, particularly in regions with limited resources, to improve patient outcomes.
C. auris was first discovered in samples from patients in Japan back in 2009 and has since proliferated in various countries, including the U.S., where some outbreaks have led to the closure of intensive care units.
This fungus poses significant risks, especially to individuals who are severely ill or on ventilators, as well as those with compromised immune systems. In fact, infection could lead to death in about half of these patients.
Unlike many fungi, C. auris can persist on human skin and cling to hospital equipment, facilitating its transmission in healthcare environments.
“This pathogen is resistant to several antifungal medications and tends to proliferate in settings that care for immunocompromised patients, utilizing equipment like ventilators and catheters,” remarked Dr. Mark Siegel, a senior medical analyst and clinical professor.
Misdiagnosis is another challenge, as the symptoms—such as fever, chills, and body aches—are common and can easily be attributed to other infections, causing delays in treatment.
While only four main classes of antifungal drugs are currently available, C. auris has demonstrated resistance to several. Though three new antifungal medications are either available or undergoing late-stage trials, researchers caution that drug development isn’t keeping pace with the fungus’s evolution.
Despite these alarming findings, there is some cautious optimism. In another December study, scientists from the University of Exeter uncovered a potential vulnerability in C. auris during their research. They found that the fungus activates specific genes to collect iron, a vital nutrient for its survival.
Considering the importance of iron for pathogens, the researchers suggest that drugs inhibiting this process could eventually help combat infections and even allow for repurposing existing treatments.
Dr. Hugh Gifford from the University of Exeter described their discovery as potentially revealing “the Achilles heel of this deadly pathogen during active infection.”
As efforts to understand this fungus continue, experts emphasize that stringent infection control, swift detection, and ongoing investment in new treatments are essential. However, it’s important to note that C. auris does not pose a risk to healthy individuals.
