NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WGNS) — Tennessee health officials have confirmed 189 clinical cases of the drug‑resistant fungus Candida auris in 2025, part of a rapidly growing public health threat that has now spread across much of the United States.
The Candida auris fungus, first identified in the United States in 2016, is known for its multidrug resistance and ability to survive on surfaces in hospitals and long‑term care facilities, making it especially difficult to control once it appears.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), C. auris has continued to increase nationally, with thousands of clinical cases reported in 2025, approaching or exceeding the approximately 7,000 cases reported nationwide this year. Clinical cases refer to infections confirmed from specimens taken during diagnosis or treatment, indicating active disease rather than simple colonization.
Health officials emphasize that C. auris primarily affects patients in healthcare settings, including hospitals, nursing homes, and long‑term care facilities. The fungus can spread through contaminated equipment, catheters, breathing tubes and contact with contaminated surfaces, posing a serious risk to medically vulnerable individuals.
“Candida auris is one of the most serious antimicrobial‑resistant threats we face,” said a CDC epidemiologist. “It can resist multiple antifungal drugs, spread rapidly in healthcare environments, and be difficult to detect without specific laboratory testing.” APIC
Experts warn that while many healthy people are unlikely to get seriously ill from C. auris, patients with weakened immune systems or underlying medical conditions — especially those with invasive devices like catheters or ventilators — are at significantly higher risk of infection. Mortality rates for invasive C. auris infection have been estimated at roughly 30% to 60% in some studies, reflecting the seriousness of these infections among vulnerable groups.
The Tennessee Department of Health has been tracking C. auris through its communicable disease dashboard, which aggregates clinical and screening cases statewide. While clinical cases like those reported this year indicate confirmed infections, health officials also monitor screening cases to identify carriers who may spread the fungus without showing symptoms.
State and local health departments are working in coordination with hospitals and long‑term care facilities to enhance infection control practices, implement early detection and screening protocols, and ensure rapid reporting of new cases. The CDC also provides guidance to healthcare providers on best practices for containment and prevention.
“As C. auris continues to spread, robust infection prevention measures — including environmental cleaning, patient screening, and communication between facilities — remain essential,” public health officials said in a joint statement.
Officials urge families with loved ones in healthcare settings to speak with facility staff about what measures are in place to prevent the spread of C. auris and to ensure that high‑risk patients are monitored closely.
Read more details from a July 2025 study released by Cambridge University Study HERE.
