Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A deadly, drug-resistant fungus that is already spreading rapidly in U.S. hospitals is becoming even more threatening around the world, although there may be hope for new treatments, according to a new scientific study.
Candida auris (C. auris), often described as a “superbacterial fungus” is spreading globally and increasingly resistant to the human immune system, researchers at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) said in a study published in early December.
The findings reinforce previous warnings from the CDC, which called C. auris an “urgent antimicrobial threat” — the first fungal pathogen to receive that designation — as cases in the United States have increased, particularly in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
DANGEROUS SPOT OF SUPERBUG INFECTIONS ARISE THROUGH US AS EXPERTS SHARE WARNINGS
Around 7,000 cases have been identified in dozens of US states in 2025, According to the CDC, and it has been identified in at least 60 countries.
Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungus that is spreading in hospitals around the world. (Nicolas Armer/Picture Alliance via Getty Images)
The review, published in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, helps explain why the pathogen is so difficult to contain and warns that outdated diagnostics and limited treatments are lagging behind. It was led by Dr. Neeraj Chauhan of Hackensack Meridian CDI in New Jersey, Dr. Anuradha Chowdhary of the Medical Mycology Unit at the University of Delhi, and Dr. Michail Lionakis, head of the Clinical Mycology Program at the National Institutes of Health.
Their findings highlight the need to develop “novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, improve diagnostic testing, and develop complementary immune- and vaccine-based modalities for the treatment of high-risk patients,” the researchers said. in a statement.
GROWING ANTIBIOTIC CRISIS COULD MAKE BACTERIAL INFECTIONS DEADLY, EXPERTS WARN
“Furthermore, future efforts should focus on raising awareness about fungal disease by developing better surveillance mechanisms, especially in low-resource countries,” they added. “All these developments should help improve the outcomes and prognosis of patients with opportunistic fungal infections.”
Candida auris can survive on skin and hospital surfaces, allowing it to spread easily. (iStock)
First identified in 2009 from an ear sample from a patient in Japan, C. auris has since spread to dozens of countries, including the United States, where outbreaks have forced some hospital intensive care units to close, researchers say.
The fungus poses the greatest risk to people who are already seriously ill, especially those on ventilators or with weakened immune systems. Once infected, about half of patients could die, according to some estimates.
FLU BY STATE: WHERE THIS SEASON’S HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS VARIANT IS SPREADING MOST
Unlike many other fungi, C. auris can survive on human skin and cling to hospital surfaces and medical equipment, allowing it to spread easily in health care settings.
“It is resistant to several antifungal drugs and tends to spread in hospital settings, including on equipment used in immunocompromised and semi-immunocompromised patients, such as ventilators and catheters,” said Dr. Marc Siegel, Fox News senior medical analyst and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone, previously told Fox News Digital.
Scientists say the unique cell wall structure of C. auris makes it more difficult to destroy. (iStock)
It is also often misdiagnosed, delaying treatment and infection control measures.
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LIFESTYLE NEWSLETTER
“Unfortunately, symptoms such as fever, chills and pain can be pervasive and can be confused with other infections,” Siegel said.
In September, he said intense research was underway to develop new treatments.
Only four major classes of antifungal drugs are currently available, and C. auris has already shown resistance to many of them. While three new antifungal drugs have been approved or are in late-stage trials, researchers warn that drug development has struggled to keep pace with the fungus’ evolution.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Despite these sobering findings, there remains room for cautious optimism.
The fungus can cling to skin and hospital surfaces, allowing it to spread. (iStock)
In separate search Published in December, scientists at the University of Exeter in England discovered a potential weakness in C. auris by studying the fungus in a living host model.
The team found that upon infection, the fungus activates specific genes to scavenge iron – a nutrient it needs to survive, according to their paper published in the journal Nature Portfolio Journal Communications Biology in December.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Since iron is essential to the pathogen, researchers believe that drugs that block this process could eventually stop infections or even allow existing drugs to be reused.
“We believe our research may have revealed an Achilles heel in this deadly pathogen during active infection,” said Dr Hugh Gifford, clinical professor at the University of Exeter and co-author of the study. in a statement.
New research is underway to develop better treatments and diagnostics for C. auris. (iStock)
As researchers work to better understand the fungus, officials caution that strict infection control, rapid detection and continued investment in new treatments remain essential.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Health experts emphasize that C. auris does not pose a threat to healthy people.
Fox News Digital has contacted CDI researchers and other experts for comment.
Angelica Stabile of Fox News Digital contributed to this report.
