Deadly superbug fungus may have new treatment hope amid ongoing spread
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A deadly, drug-resistant fungus already spreading rapidly in U.S. hospitals is becoming more threatening around the world, but there may be hope for new treatments, according to a new scientific review.
Candida auris (C. auris), often described as the “superbug fungus,” is spreading globally and becoming increasingly resistant to human immune systems, Hackensack Meridian Center for Discovery and Innovation (CDI) researchers said in a review published in early December.
The findings reinforce previous CDC warnings that labeled C. auris an “urgent antimicrobial threat” (the first fungal pathogen to receive this designation) as cases in the U.S. are rising, especially in hospitals and long-term care facilities.
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Nearly 7,000 cases were detected in dozens of US states in 2025. According to HKM, and has reportedly been identified in at least 60 countries.
Candida auris is a drug-resistant fungus spreading in hospitals around the world. (Nicolas Armer/Image Alliance via Getty Images)
The review, published in Microbiology and Molecular Biology Reviews, helps explain why the pathogen is so difficult to control and warns that outdated diagnostics and limited treatments are a thing of the past. Dr. from Hackensack Meridian CDI in New Jersey. Neeraj Chauhan, MD, Department of Medical Mycology, University of Delhi. Anuradha Chowdhary and chief of the clinical mycology program at the National Institutes of Health, Dr. It was conducted by Michail Lionakis.
The researchers said their findings highlight the need to “develop novel antifungal agents with broad-spectrum activity against human fungal pathogens, improve diagnostic testing, and develop immune- and vaccine-based adjuvants for the treatment of high-risk patients.” in a statement.
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“Future efforts should also focus on increasing awareness of the fungal disease by developing better surveillance mechanisms, especially in resource-poor countries,” they added. “All these advances will help improve the outcomes and prognosis of patients affected by opportunistic fungal infections.”
Candida auris survives on skin and hospital surfaces, allowing it to spread easily. (iStock)
First identified in an ear sample from a patient in Japan in 2009, C. auris has since spread to dozens of countries, including the United States, where outbreaks have forced the closure of some hospital intensive care units, according to researchers.
The fungus poses the greatest risk to people who are already in critical condition, especially those on ventilators or those with compromised immune systems. By some estimates, about half of patients may die after becoming infected.
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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 settings.
Fox News senior medical analyst and clinical professor of medicine at NYU Langone. “It is resistant to many antifungal drugs and tends to spread in hospital settings, including equipment such as ventilators and catheters used in immunocompromised and semi-immunocompromised patients,” Marc Siegel previously told Fox News Digital.
Scientists say C. auris’ unique cell wall structure makes it difficult to kill. (iStock)
Additionally, they are often misdiagnosed and treatment and infection control measures are delayed.
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“Unfortunately, symptoms such as fever, chills, and pain can be present anywhere and can be confused with other infections,” Siegel said.
He said in September that intensive research was continuing to develop new treatments.
Only four major classes of antifungal drugs are currently available, and C. auris has shown resistance to most of them. While three new antifungal drugs have been approved or are in late-stage trials, researchers warn that drug development is struggling 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 skin and hospital surfaces, helping it spread. (iStock)
In a separate study published in December, scientists from the University of Exeter in England discovered a potential weakness in C. auris while studying the fungus in a living host model.
The team found that during infection, the fungus activates certain genes to scavenge iron, a nutrient it needs to survive, according to their paper published in December in the Nature portfolio journal Communications Biology.
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Because iron is essential to the pathogen, researchers believe drugs that block this process could eventually stop infections and even allow existing drugs to be repurposed.
Clinical lecturer at the University of Exeter and co-author of the study, Dr. “We think our research may have revealed the presence of an Achilles heel in this deadly pathogen during active infection,” said Hugh Gifford. in a statement.
New research is ongoing 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 are critical.
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Health experts emphasize that C. auris is not a threat to healthy people.
Fox News Digital has reached out to CDI researchers and additional experts for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Angelica Stabile contributed reporting.
