Drug-Resistant Fungus Candida auris Spreads Globally

In December 2025, a new study led by Indian researchers warned that the drug-resistant fungal pathogen Candida auris is becoming more virulent and spreading rapidly across the world, posing a growing public health threat.

Key Points

Emerging Global Threat: The study highlights that invasive fungal infections, including those caused by Candida auris, are spreading worldwide and affecting around 6.5 million people annually.
High Mortality Rates: These infections are associated with very high fatality rates, often exceeding 50%, even when antifungal treatment is administered.
Unique Pathogen Characteristics: Candida auris is a multidrug-resistant fungal species with a distinctive ability to survive and persist on human skin, unlike most other fungal pathogens.
Cellular Survival Strategies: The fungus can switch from yeast growth to filament-driven spread, form multicellular aggregates, and alter its genetic expression to adapt to changing environments.
Skin Colonisation Ability: Molecular evidence shows that C. auris cell-wall proteins act like adhesive substances, enabling the fungus to attach strongly to human skin and even non-living surfaces.
Hospital Transmission Risk: Long-term skin colonisation is a major concern, as colonised patients can facilitate inter- and intra-hospital transmission to other vulnerable patients.
Risk of Severe Infections: Patients colonised with C. auris are at increased risk of developing serious systemic fungal infections, which are harder to treat.
Immune Evasion: While the human body mounts defence mechanisms, evidence suggests that C. auris can actively evade immune responses, aiding its persistence.