A deadly ‘superbug’ is spreading across the US as drug resistance grows, researchers warn
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A deadly, drug-resistant fungus 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 review.
Candida auris (C. auris), often described as a “superbug fungus,” is spreading globally and increasingly resisting human immune systems, researchers at the Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) said in a review published in early December.
The findings reinforce previous warnings from the CDC that have labeled 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.
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According to the CDC, approximately 7,000 cases were identified in dozens of US states in 2025, and it has reportedly been identified in at least 60 countries.
Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungus that spreads 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in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, helps explain why the pathogen is so difficult to contain and warns that outdated diagnoses and limited treatments are behind us. It was conducted by Dr. Neeraj Chauhan of the 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 underscore the need to develop “new antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, improve diagnostic tests, and develop complementary immune-based modalities and vaccines for the treatment of high-risk patients,” the researchers said in a statement.
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“In addition, future efforts should focus on raising awareness about fungal diseases by developing better surveillance mechanisms, especially in resource-poor countries,” they added. “All of these advances should help improve outcomes and prognosis for patients affected by opportunistic fungal infections.”
Candida auris can survive on skin and hospital surfaces, allowing it to spread easily. (iStock)
First identified in 2009 from a patient’s ear sample 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, according to researchers.
The fungus poses the greatest risk to people who are already seriously ill, particularly those who are on ventilators or with weakened immune systems. Once infected, about half of patients can die, according to some estimates.
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Unlike many other fungi, C. auris can survive on human skin and adhere to hospital surfaces and medical equipment, allowing it to spread easily in healthcare environments.
“It is resistant to multiple antifungal medications and tends to spread in hospital settings, including on equipment used in immunocompromised and semi-immunocompromised patients, such as ventilators and catheters,” Dr. Marc Siegel, News senior medical analyst and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone, previously told News Digital.
Scientists say the unique structure of C. auris’s cell wall makes it harder to kill. (iStock)
It is also frequently misdiagnosed, delaying treatment and infection control measures.
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“Unfortunately, symptoms such as fever, chills and aches can be ubiquitous and can be confused with other infections,” Siegel said.
In September, he said intense research was underway to develop new treatments.
Currently only four main classes of antifungal drugs are 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 evolution of the fungus.
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Despite the sobering findings, there is still room for cautious optimism.
The fungus can adhere to the skin and hospital surfaces, which encourages its spread. (iStock)
In separate research published in December, scientists at the University of Exeter in England discovered a potential weakness in C. auris while studying the fungus in a living host model.
The team discovered that during infection, the fungus activates specific genes to remove iron, a nutrient it needs to survive, according to their paper, published in the journal Nature Communications Biology in December.
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Because iron is essential for the pathogen, researchers believe that drugs that block this process could eventually stop infections or even allow existing drugs to be repurposed.
“We believe our research may have revealed an Achilles’ heel in this lethal pathogen during active infection,” Dr. Hugh Gifford, clinical professor at the University of Exeter and co-author of the study, said in a statement.
New research is being done to develop better treatments and diagnostics for C. auris. (iStock)
As researchers race to better understand the fungus, officials warn that strict infection control, rapid detection and continued investment in new treatments remain critical.
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Health experts emphasize that C. auris is not a threat to healthy people.
News Digital has contacted CDI investigators and additional experts for comment.
News Digital’s Angelica Stabile contributed reporting.
Deirdre Bardolf is a lifestyle writer at News Digital.