By Stephanie Szylar, MSN, APN-C
Being diagnosed with Candida auris (C. auris) can feel scary or troubling, especially if you’ve never heard of it before. After a hospital stay and being discharged home, it’s normal to wonder what life looks like next.
This post will address what C. auris is and why it is of concern in healthcare settings. This blog will also answer your questions, clear up common confusion, and help you feel more confident about managing this diagnosis outside of a healthcare setting.
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What is the C. auris fungal infection?
C. auris is a type of yeast (a fungus) that can cause serious illness. This form of fungal infection was first discovered in 2009 in a patient’s ear in Japan. Since then, it has spread across the globe and is now found in many countries, including the United States. This is an emerging infectious disease ID Care is focusing on.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that there were 4,514 new clinical cases of Candida auris in the U.S. in 2023. There were 627 clinical cases in New Jersey from 2016 through April 1, 2025, according to the New Jersey Department of Health.
Candida auris is a public health concern resistant to antifungal medications
This fungus is most commonly found in healthcare settings like hospitals and nursing homes. It can cause infections in people who are already very sick. Most affected are those with weakened immune systems and people with catheters or breathing tubes.
What makes C. auris such a public health concern is that it’s often resistant to common antifungal medications. That means the fungus can sometimes survive treatment, making infections harder to control.
C. auris symptoms
C. auris can infect different parts of the body, including blood, wounds and the ears. The symptoms vary depending on the part of the body affected and the severity of the infection.
Not everyone with Candida auris will have symptoms. In addition, people with the condition are already very ill, and symptoms might not be apparent as coming from the fungal infection. C. auris symptoms can include:
- Fever and chills.
- Pain or pressure in the ear.
- Extreme tiredness.
- High heart rate.
- Low blood pressure.
- Hypothermia.
Candida auris transmission
The disease is transmitted (spread) mostly through direct contact either with a contaminated surface or from person to person by touch.
C. auris can live on hard surfaces such as:
- Bed rails.
- Doorknobs.
- Medical equipment.
Contaminated vs. infected
People with C. auris are either contaminated or infected. A person can carry the fungus on their skin or other part of the body without showing any signs of illness. This is called colonization. If you are colonized, the fungus lives on or in your body but it is not causing an active infection. People who are colonized do not need treatment.
In people who are infected, C. auris has entered their body and causes symptoms. They are at risk of serious illness. This fungal infection typically only colonizes or infects medically vulnerable patients. About 5%-10% of those contaminated will become infected.
Both those infected and those contaminated can spread the disease.
What happens after you leave the hospital following this fungal infection?
If you’ve been treated for a C. auris infection in the hospital and are now home, here’s some reassuring news: The risk to your household is very low especially if the people you live with are healthy and don’t have catheters, breathing tubes or other medical devices.
If you’re only colonized and not infected, you don’t need any medication. But basic hygiene is still important to reduce the risk of spreading it to others, according to a study published by Frontiers in Microbiology.
Tips to stay healthy at home
Here are some simple steps to protect yourself and others:
- Wash your hands often with warm water and soap, particularly after using the bathroom, before eating, and before/after bandage dressing changes.
- Keep wounds covered, and wear gloves if you’re helping someone with wound care or dressing changes.
- Clean shared spaces like bathrooms and kitchen counters regularly with household cleaners.
- Wash laundry as usual – there are no special rules for clothing or bedding.
What about family and friends?
Healthy people who live with someone carrying C. auris are not at high risk. There is no need for routine testing or preventive medicine for your healthy household members.
As long as everyone practices basic hygiene, C. auris is very unlikely to cause problems in a home environment.
Final thoughts
C. auris can sound scary, but for most people leaving the hospital it’s not a threat to daily life. Colonization doesn’t mean you’re sick, and even if you had the infection, treatment is available and effective in many cases.
About the author Stephanie Szylar, MSN, APN-C
- Stephanie Szylar focuses on treating various infectious diseases including C. auris.
- Her patient-centered approach prioritizes understanding medical history and listening to patients, which are vital aspects of recognizing and managing the emergence and spread of Candida auris infections.
- Stephanie is board certified as an Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner by the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.
