Drug-Resistant Fungus Candida auris Spreads to 27 US States, Scientists Discover It Hides in Hair Follicles

A UCSF study published in Science reveals that the deadly, drug-resistant fungus Candida auris persists on human skin by hiding inside hair follicles. By exposing chitin, the yeast triggers an antiviral interferon gamma response that suppresses the skin's natural IL-17 antifungal defenses, creating a 'perfect nest' to multiply. The CDC has labeled the pathogen an urgent threat, reporting 3,437 clinical cases across 27 U.S. states so far in 2026, with California, Texas, and Michigan most affected.

Candida auris hospital spread

• ▪Candida auris is a drug-resistant yeast that spreads primarily in hospitals and long-term care facilities, posing a severe threat to medically vulnerable patients.
• ▪To prevent transmission in healthcare settings, infected or colonized patients are isolated, and facilities must use EPA-approved disinfectants because standard cleaners are ineffective.
• ▪Candida auris can survive silently on human skin for months without causing symptoms, allowing colonized individuals to unknowingly transmit the fungus to others.

Hair follicle colonization mechanism

• ▪A study published in Science on August 6, 2026, revealed that Candida auris persists on human skin by taking refuge deep inside hair follicles.
• ▪In comparative mouse experiments, healthy immune systems cleared Candida albicans within days, whereas Candida auris persisted inside the hair follicles.

Immune system hijacking

• ▪Candida auris alters its outer cell wall to expose more chitin, a molecule that prompts nearby immune cells to release interferon gamma.
• ▪The interferon gamma response triggered by Candida auris suppresses the skin's protective IL-17 antifungal defense and slows the natural replacement of hair follicle cells.
• ▪The suppression of IL-17 leads to a buildup of older, damaged skin cells, creating a sheltered niche or 'perfect nest' where Candida auris can multiply.

Drug resistance treatment challenges

• ▪A CDC analysis of Candida auris samples from 2022 and 2023 found that over 95% were resistant to fluconazole, 15% to amphotericin B, and 1% to echinocandins.
• ▪There is currently no reliable clinical method to completely remove Candida auris from human skin once colonization has occurred.
• ▪UCSF researchers suggest future treatments could target skin colonization by using drugs that block chitin or shift the immune response from interferon gamma back to IL-17.
• ▪Candida auris kills an estimated 3,000 patients annually in the United States and is classified by the CDC as an urgent antimicrobial resistance threat.

State case distribution patterns

• ▪According to CDC data through July 25, 2026, California recorded the most cases with 873, while Texas reported 715 cases and Michigan reported 518 cases.
• ▪The CDC reported 3,437 clinical cases of Candida auris across 27 U.S. states this year as of the week ending July 25, 2026.