Emerging Fungus Causing Deadly Infections in Hospitals and Nursing Homes Across the US

The CDC warns of an emerging and potentially deadly fungus, Candida auris (C. auris), that is spreading in healthcare settings like ICUs and nursing homes, infecting patients who are already battling severe health problems. C. auris is multi-drug resistant and hard to detect without specialized lab equipment. It can live on a person's skin without causing symptoms, allowing it to be transmitted from one person to another or to get into a patient's body through contaminated surfaces or medical equipment. The CDC reports 2,377 clinical C. auris cases in the US in 2022, and 30% to 60% of patients infected die.