Candida auris: The Drug-Resistant Fungus Spreading in Hospitals – Peru Alert

A dangerous, drug-resistant fungal infection, Candida auris, is gaining traction in healthcare settings across the United States, including hospitals and nursing homes in Novel York and New Jersey, prompting increased vigilance from health officials. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported more than 7,000 cases in 2025, a significant increase in recent years, raising concerns about its potential to cause widespread, difficult-to-treat infections.

Candida auris first emerged in the U.S. In 2013, initially identified in New York-New Jersey, and has since led to outbreaks since 2016. The fungus is particularly concerning due to its resistance to commonly used antifungal drugs, sometimes leaving clinicians with no effective treatment options, leading some to label it a “superbug,” according to Dr. David Perlin, chief scientific officer at the Center for Discovery and Innovation at Hackensack Meridian Health.

The New Jersey Department of Health reports that C. Auris is primarily found in healthcare facilities, specifically long-term acute care hospitals and nursing homes that care for patients requiring ventilators. Patients can carry the fungus on their bodies without exhibiting symptoms – a state known as colonization – and unknowingly spread it to others or contaminate surfaces.

Invasive infections caused by Candida auris can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, proving particularly dangerous for individuals with weakened immune systems or underlying health conditions. Symptoms can include fever and chills, but often are not specific, making early detection challenging. Outdated diagnostic methods can also misidentify the infection, delaying appropriate treatment.

Researchers, including Rita R. Verma of New York Medical College and Edward Kiegle of the Wadsworth Center Mycology Laboratory, have been investigating the origins of the outbreak, hypothesizing that travel patterns may have played a role in its introduction to the New York-New Jersey area. Their research suggests the initial introduction was not a random event.

Preventing the spread of Candida auris requires rigorous infection control measures, including meticulous hand hygiene, isolation of colonized or infected patients, and thorough disinfection of surfaces and medical equipment. The New Jersey Department of Health actively responds to all reported cases and supports prevention efforts through surveillance testing and infection prevention recommendations. The department can be contacted at (609) 826-5964 for suspected or identified cases.

According to Carlos Saavedra, director of the Escuela Profesional de Medicina Humana at the Universidad Privada del Norte, Candida auris is a unicellular yeast that can colonize both humans and the hospital environment. While many Candida species exist, C. Auris stands out due to its emerging nature, high resistance rates, and its association with hospital outbreaks. He notes that accurate identification of the fungus requires advanced PCR methods, as it doesn’t require special growth mediums but is often misidentified by standard tests.