If you’ve never heard of Candida auris, you’re not alone. Most people know about hospital‑related infections like E. coli, Salmonella, or Listeria, but this one is different — and Pennsylvania health officials say cases are rising. WTAE, in Pittsburgh, PA. highlighted the growing concern, and state data backs it up: C. auris is an emerging, drug‑resistant yeast that spreads easily in healthcare settings and can cause severe illness in very sick patients.
What exactly is Candida auris?
Candida auris (also called Candidozyma auris) is a type of yeast that can infect the bloodstream, wounds, urinary tract, and even the ear. Symptoms depend on where the infection occurs, but often look similar to bacterial infections — fever, chills, and signs of sepsis.
Unlike common yeast infections, C. auris is multidrug‑resistant, meaning many standard antifungal medications don’t work well against it. It can also survive on surfaces for months, making it unusually difficult to control in hospitals and long‑term care facilities.
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Why is Pennsylvania seeing more cases?
Pennsylvania’s Department of Health and Philadelphia’s Department of Public Health have reported sharp increases in recent years:
Philadelphia documented 103 cases in 2024 and 221 cases in 2025, jumps of 129% and 115% from the previous years.
Since the first Pennsylvania case in 2020, 511 cases have been reported in Philadelphia alone.
Statewide, Pennsylvania has recorded 1,002 cases from March 2020 through March 2026.
Most infections occur in high‑risk patients — people who need ventilators, central lines, long hospital stays, or multiple rounds of antibiotics. These are not community infections; they almost exclusively happen inside healthcare facilities.
Colonization vs. infection:
One thing that makes C. auris tricky is that people can carry it on their skin without being sick. This is called colonization, and it often occurs in areas like the underarms, groin, or between fingers and toes. About 5–10% of colonized patients eventually develop an invasive infection.
There is no approved decolonization treatment, meaning hospitals focus on preventing spread rather than “clearing” the fungus
How does it spread?
C. auris spreads through contact — contaminated hands, shared medical equipment, or surfaces like bed rails, call bells, and bathroom fixtures. Because it survives so long in the environment, even small lapses in cleaning can allow it to linger.
Why health officials are sounding the alarm:
The concern isn’t because C. auris is new — it was first identified in 2009 — but because:
It is increasing rapidly in Pennsylvania healthcare facilities.
It is hard to treat due to drug resistance.
It causes serious illness in medically fragile patients.
It can trigger facility‑wide outbreaks if not contained quickly.
Philadelphia health officials have urged hospitals to increase screening, improve communication between facilities, and strengthen infection‑control practices.
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Should the general public be worried?
For everyday Pennsylvanians, the risk is extremely low. C. auris is not spreading in the community and is not linked to food, water, or casual contact. It is almost entirely a hospital‑associated organism.
But for families with loved ones in long‑term care, ventilator units, or extended hospital stays, awareness matters. Asking about infection‑control practices — hand hygiene, cleaning protocols, and screening — is reasonable and encouraged.
The Bottom Line:
Candida auris isn’t a household name, but it’s becoming a significant healthcare challenge in Pennsylvania. With cases rising and hospitals working to contain it, staying informed helps us understand what’s happening behind the scenes in the facilities that care for our most vulnerable residents.