CDC reports over 700 Candida auris cases in Texas, 3,130 nationwide

Federal health officials said the drug-resistant yeast Candida auris has been identified in 23 U.S. states this year, with Texas reporting more than 700 cases, the highest count nationwide. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) noted 3,130 cases across the country as of July 18.

Candida auris spreads primarily in health-care settings through direct contact with infected patients or contaminated surfaces such as bedrails and doorknobs. The organism can persist on surfaces for extended periods, and not all disinfectants are effective against it. The CDC advises rigorous hand hygiene and the use of approved cleaning agents, and recommends isolating infected patients and thoroughly cleaning their rooms.

The yeast is often resistant to multiple antifungal medications, making treatment challenging. Most cases occur in adults aged 45 and older, with a higher proportion among men. Patients receiving complex medical care, especially those with devices like breathing tubes, feeding tubes or catheters, are at greatest risk.

"It can be serious if you get it, but it's not like everybody just out walking around is going to get it," said Catherine Troisi, an infectious disease epidemiologist at UTHealth Houston.

"Usually when you're going to a hospital you don't have a whole lot of choice about it. I think that while it is of concern, the risk is relatively small," Troisi added.

"It all comes down to good prevention control measures, which hospitals are doing anyways," she said, noting that hospitals typically isolate infected patients and perform intensive cleaning.

The CDC also cautioned against unnecessary use of antibiotics and antifungals, warning that overuse can diminish the body's natural defenses and increase susceptibility to resistant infections.

"Don't take antibiotics if you don't need them and take them the way they are prescribed," Troisi advised.

Public health officials continue to monitor the spread and urge health-care facilities to maintain strict infection-control protocols.