Washington Faces Spread of Drug-Resistant Candida Auris
A drug-resistant yeast called Candida auris is spreading across the United States, including Washington state, with more than 4,500 cases nationwide in 2026 and at least a dozen WA infections. It can cause everything from shallow skin infections to life-threatening bloodstream infections and is often resistant to antifungal drugs. The infection mainly hits hospitalized patients with invasive medical devices and those with weakened immune systems, with invasive infections carrying a 30%–60% mortality rate. Treatment usually requires multiple antifungal drugs. Preventing spread relies on strict infection-control in healthcare settings—hand hygiene, patient isolation, room disinfection, and use of gloves and gowns—while home precautions emphasize regular handwashing and careful care of any invasive medical devices.
