What Is Candida Auris? The Drug-Resistant Fungus Explained
Updated: 2 days ago
Medically reviewed by Dr. Baraa Alnahhal, MD · Last reviewed: October 2026
Quick Answer: What is Candida auris?
Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungus that causes serious infections mainly in hospitals and long-term care facilities, usually in people who are already seriously ill or have medical devices. It spreads through contact with carriers or contaminated surfaces, not through the air. Most cases can be cured with echinocandin medications, and good hand hygiene helps prevent it. [4]
Key takeaways
Candida auris is a fungus that can cause serious illness, including ear, wound, urinary tract, and bloodstream infections. [4]
Some strains are resistant to multiple drugs, making them harder to treat. [4]
It spreads in hospitals and long-term care facilities through contact with infected people or contaminated surfaces and equipment — not through the air. [4]
Unlike other Candida species, C. auris does not naturally live on your body. [4]
People with healthy immune systems usually don't get sick from it, but can still transmit it to others. [4]
Echinocandin medications can usually cure a C. auris infection, and sometimes a combination of medications is needed. [4]
What the research says
Cases and drug resistance have both been rising in the United States. CDC surveillance counted 3,270 clinical cases and 7,413 screening cases through 2021. The yearly increase in clinical cases grew from 44% in 2019 to 95% in 2021, and echinocandin-resistant cases in 2021 were about 3 times the number in each of the previous 2 years; screening is not done uniformly, so the true burden may be underestimated (Lyman et al., Ann Intern Med, 2023) [1].
Diabetes is common among people with proven C. auris infection, and mortality is high. A meta-analysis of 43 studies found diabetes in a pooled 36% of patients with proven C. auris infection, with unadjusted all-cause mortality of 57% in those with diabetes; central venous catheters, ICU stays, and mechanical ventilation were the most frequent hospital-related factors (Vaez et al., BMC Infect Dis, 2026) [2].
Outbreaks reflect lapses in infection control. In a systematic review of 25 studies of hospital outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic, C. auris accounted for 188 of 619 outbreak-related cases, with 52% mortality; staffing shortages and training gaps were cited, and environmental cleaning was often prioritized over hand hygiene (Madran et al., Am J Infect Control, 2026) [3].
What Is Candida Auris?
Candida auris (C. auris) is a fungus that can cause serious illness. Some strains are resistant to multiple drugs, making them hard to treat. It most commonly spreads in hospitals or long-term care facilities. It can cause ear infections, wound infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and infections in your blood that spread to the rest of your body. [4]
How Is C. auris Different From Other Candida Species?
Unlike other species (types) of Candida, experts don't think C. auris lives naturally on your body. You get it from contaminated surfaces or from other people who have a C. auris infection. Most people without underlying health conditions aren't at risk for C. auris infections. [4]
How Common Are Candida Auris Infections?
C. auris infections are rare. However, they're considered an emerging infectious disease, as healthcare providers have had an increase in cases since around 2019. Providers are taking additional steps to prevent the spread of C. auris in hospitals and long-term care facilities. [4]
C. auris at a glance | What the science says |
What it is | A fungus that can cause serious illness |
Drug resistance | Some strains resist multiple drugs, making treatment harder |
Where it spreads | Hospitals and long-term care facilities |
Where it infects | Ears, wounds, urinary tract, bloodstream |
Where it comes from | Contaminated surfaces or people who carry it — it doesn't naturally live on your body |
Who gets sick | Mostly people who are already ill or have weakened immune systems |
How common | Rare, but an emerging infectious disease with rising cases since around 2019 |
Symptoms: What a C. Auris Infection Looks Like
Symptoms of a C. auris infection depend on where in your body the fungus infects. [4]
Symptom | What you may notice |
Fever | Elevated body temperature |
Chills | Shivering and feeling cold |
Lethargy | Extreme tiredness |
Low blood pressure | Blood pressure readings dropping below normal |
High heart rate (tachycardia) | Heart beating faster than normal |
Low body temperature (hypothermia) | Body temperature falling below normal |
Ear symptoms | Pain, pressure, or feeling of fullness in your ear (with a C. auris ear infection) |
An important complication makes symptoms hard to spot: since many people who get C. auris infections are already seriously ill, symptoms may not be noticeable. And many people carrying C. auris have no symptoms at all but can still pass it to someone else. [4]
How Is Candida Auris Transmitted?
You get a C. auris infection from contact with someone who has it (even if they have no symptoms) or from a contaminated surface. In healthcare settings, infections can pass from person to person or through contaminated medical equipment. It can also infect you through a medical device in your body, like a central venous line or breathing tube. [4]
Can Candida Auris Spread Through the Air?
No. Experts don't believe C. auris spreads through the air. It is usually carried on your skin and travels from person to person or through contaminated objects. [4]
Transmission route | How it happens |
Person to person | Direct contact with someone who carries it, even without symptoms |
Contaminated surfaces | Touching surfaces or objects carrying the fungus |
Contaminated medical equipment | Equipment in healthcare settings that hasn't been sterilized |
Medical devices in your body | Central venous lines, breathing tubes, feeding tubes, and bladder catheters letting the fungus in from the outside |
Airborne spread | Does not happen — experts don't believe it spreads through the air |
Risk Factors: Who Is Most at Risk?
Most people who contract C. auris infections have a weakened immune system from an underlying health condition. [4] You might be at a higher risk if you have:
Risk factor | Why it raises risk |
Medical devices in your body | A central venous line, breathing tube, feeding tube, bladder catheter, or another device can allow C. auris to get into your body from the outside |
Blood cancer | An underlying condition that weakens immunity |
Diabetes | An underlying condition that weakens immunity |
Long hospital or healthcare stays | More exposure time in facilities where the fungus spreads |
Recent surgery | Wounds and hospital exposure increase vulnerability |
Prolonged or frequent antibiotic use | Extended or frequent antibiotic courses change your body's natural defenses |
Complications: What Can Happen
If C. auris spreads to your blood, it can cause serious complications [4], including:
Complication | What it means |
Sepsis | A life-threatening response to infection spreading through the body |
Shock | Dangerously low circulation as infection overwhelms the body |
Organ failure | Vital organs begin to shut down |
How Are C. Auris Infections Diagnosed?
C. auris can be difficult to diagnose. It requires special testing and is sometimes mistaken for other infectious diseases. Your provider may suspect a C. auris infection if you have symptoms of a bacterial infection that don't go away with antibiotics. [4]
They may test samples from your body for C. auris, including blood, urine (pee), stool (poop), fluid or tissue from a wound, and a swab from your groin, armpits, ears, vagina, or rectum. [4]
Sample type | How it's collected |
Blood | Blood draw |
Urine | Urine sample |
Stool | Stool sample |
Wound | Fluid or tissue from a wound |
Skin/mucosa swab | A swab from your groin, armpits, ears, vagina, or rectum |
Treatment: Can a C. Auris Infection Be Cured?
A type of medication called echinocandins can usually cure a Candida auris infection. But some types of C. auris are becoming resistant to medications, making them harder to treat. Providers may need to use a combination of medications to get rid of the infection. [4]
Treatment approach | When it's used |
Echinocandins | The usual first treatment, which can cure most infections |
Combination medications | Used when the strain is resistant to echinocandins or multiple drugs |
Outlook: What Is the Mortality Rate?
Since most people who get C. auris already have serious underlying health conditions that carry an increased risk of mortality, the true mortality rate of C. auris is hard to know. Some limited studies show the rate as high as 30% to 60%. [4]
Prevention: How Is C. Auris Contained?
Healthcare providers follow safety and sterilization rules to prevent healthcare-acquired infections like C. auris. [4] These include:
Prevention measure | How it stops the spread |
Handwashing | Removes the fungus from hands before it can travel |
Disinfecting surfaces | Eliminates the fungus from contaminated objects and surfaces |
Appropriate antibiotic use | Ensures people only take antibiotics when they have bacterial infections |
Sterilizing medical devices | Prevents equipment from carrying the fungus between patients |
Screening | Screens patients and visitors when there's a suspected outbreak |
Quarantine (isolation) | Isolates people with C. auris infections so it doesn't spread to others |
What you can do personally: You can help prevent C. auris infections by washing your hands frequently, especially if you're caring for someone with a weakened immune system or who has spent a long time in a healthcare facility recently. You can also ask your provider how long you need to use invasive medical devices like catheters. [4]
When Should I Contact My Healthcare Provider?
Even when you're in the hospital, communication with your healthcare team is important. Let them know if you're experiencing symptoms of an infection, like pain, rapid heart rate, weakness, or fever. [4]
Useful questions to ask your provider include: What are my treatment options? When can I expect to feel better? How did I get this infection? What can I do to prevent an infection like this in the future? [4]
Conclusion
Candida auris may sound alarming, and it deserves respect — some strains resist multiple drugs, and it has been rising as an emerging infectious disease since around 2019. But context matters: it rarely affects healthy people, it does not travel through the air, and it does not live naturally on your body the way other Candida species do. It spreads in hospitals and long-term care facilities through touch — skin contact, contaminated surfaces, and equipment — which is exactly why it can be controlled. Facilities fight it with handwashing, disinfection, device sterilization, screening, and isolation, and echinocandin medications cure most infections, with combination therapy reserved for resistant strains. If you're a hospital patient or visiting someone who is, speak up about infection symptoms like fever, pain, rapid heart rate, or weakness, and simple habits like frequent handwashing protect you and your loved ones.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Candida auris?
Candida auris (C. auris) is a fungus that can cause serious illness. Some strains are resistant to multiple drugs, making them hard to treat. [4]
What types of infections does Candida auris cause?
It most commonly causes ear infections, wound infections, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and bloodstream infections that can spread to the rest of your body. [4]
Is Candida auris different from other Candida species?
Yes. Unlike other Candida types, experts don't think C. auris lives naturally on your body. You get it from contaminated surfaces or from people who carry it. [4]
Where does Candida auris usually spread?
It most commonly spreads in hospitals or long-term care facilities. [4]
How common is Candida auris?
Infections are rare, but C. auris is considered an emerging infectious disease, with an increase in cases since around 2019. [4]
Who is most at risk of getting sick from Candida auris?
Most people who get C. auris infections have a weakened immune system from an underlying health condition. Most people without underlying health conditions aren't at risk. [4]
Can healthy people carry Candida auris?
Yes. People with a healthy immune system usually don't get sick from C. auris, but can still transmit it to others. [4]
What are the symptoms of a Candida auris infection?
Symptoms depend on where the fungus infects and may include fever, chills, lethargy, low blood pressure, high heart rate (tachycardia), low body temperature (hypothermia), and ear pain, pressure, or fullness. [4]
Why can symptoms be hard to notice?
Many people who get C. auris infections are already seriously ill, so symptoms may not be noticeable. [4]
Can someone carry Candida auris without symptoms?
Yes. Many people carrying C. auris have no symptoms but can still pass it to someone else. [4]
How do you catch Candida auris?
From contact with someone who has it (even without symptoms) or from a contaminated surface. [4]
Can Candida auris spread through the air?
No. Experts don't believe it spreads through the air. It is usually carried on your skin and travels person to person or through contaminated objects. [4]
What is tachycardia?
Tachycardia is a high heart rate — your heart beating faster than normal, which can be a sign of infection.
What is hypothermia in this context?
Hypothermia means your body temperature has fallen below normal, which can be a symptom of serious infection.
What are the risk factors for Candida auris infections?
Having a medical device in your body (central venous line, breathing tube, feeding tube, bladder catheter), blood cancer, diabetes, long stays in healthcare facilities, recent surgery, and prolonged or frequent antibiotic use. [4]
How do medical devices raise the risk?
Devices like central venous lines or breathing tubes can allow C. auris to get into your body from the outside. [4]
What complications can Candida auris cause?
If it spreads to your blood, it can cause sepsis, shock, and organ failure. [4]
Why is Candida auris hard to diagnose?
It requires special testing and is sometimes mistaken for other infectious diseases. Providers may suspect it when bacterial-infection symptoms don't improve with antibiotics. [4]
What samples are tested for Candida auris?
Blood, urine, stool, fluid or tissue from a wound, and swabs from your groin, armpits, ears, vagina, or rectum. [4]
Can a Candida auris infection be cured?
Yes. A medication class called echinocandins can usually cure the infection, though some resistant types may require a combination of medications. [4]
What happens if the fungus resists medication?
Some types of C. auris are becoming resistant to medications, making them harder to treat — providers may need to combine medications to clear the infection. [4]
What is the mortality rate of Candida auris?
The true rate is hard to know because most patients already have serious underlying conditions. Limited studies show rates as high as 30% to 60%. [4]
Why is the true mortality rate hard to determine?
Because most people who get C. auris already have serious underlying health conditions that carry an increased risk of mortality on their own. [4]
How do hospitals prevent Candida auris from spreading?
Through handwashing, disinfecting surfaces, appropriate antibiotic use, sterilizing medical devices, screening patients and visitors during suspected outbreaks, and isolating people with infections. [4]
What can I personally do to prevent Candida auris?
Wash your hands frequently, especially when caring for someone with a weakened immune system or who recently spent a long time in a healthcare facility. Ask your provider how long invasive medical devices like catheters are needed. [4]
Should I be worried about Candida auris?
Most people don't need to worry. [4] It rarely causes infection in people with healthy immune systems, and healthcare providers work actively to keep hospitals and long-term care facilities safe.
When should I tell my healthcare team something is wrong?
Let them know if you're experiencing infection symptoms like pain, rapid heart rate, weakness, or fever — even while you're in the hospital. [4]
What questions should I ask my provider about Candida auris?
Ask about your treatment options, when you can expect to feel better, how you got the infection, and what you can do to prevent a similar infection in the future. [4]
What should I do if a loved one is receiving care and I'm concerned about Candida auris?
Don't hesitate to speak up to a provider. They can answer your questions about C. auris prevention for yourself or a loved one in their care. [4]
Related Reading
Sepsis: Complete Guide to Symptoms, Causes, Risks, and Treatment
Avoiding Healthcare-Associated Infections: Essential Steps for Patients and Families
Urinary Tract Infection (UTI): Symptoms, Causes, Treatment, and Prevention
Diabetes: Symptoms, Types, Causes, Diagnosis & Treatment — Complete Guide
Candida Parapsilosis: The Harmless Fungus That Can Cause Serious Infection
References
Lyman M, Forsberg K, Sexton DJ, et al. Worsening spread of Candida auris in the United States, 2019 to 2021. Ann Intern Med. 2023;176(4):489-495. PMID: 36940442. https://doi.org/10.7326/M22-3469
Vaez A, Ghahremanzadeh A, Zare F, et al. Global prevalence, mortality, and comorbidities of patients with diabetes mellitus and proven Candida auris emerging infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis. BMC Infect Dis. 2026;26(1). PMID: 41654747. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-026-12739-3
Madran B, Genç Z, Abdel-Rahman SM, et al. Hospital-based bacterial and fungal outbreaks during the COVID-19 pandemic: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Am J Infect Control. 2026;54(5):490-497. PMID: 41344614. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2025.11.024
Cleveland Clinic. Candida Auris. Cleveland Clinic. Last updated July 21, 2023. https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/25152-candida-auris
Medical disclaimer
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment of any medical condition.
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