Researchers are raising alarms as potentially deadly drug-resistant infections, often referred to as superbugs, are becoming more common and harder to treat across the United States. One of the most troubling examples is Candida auris, a fungus that has been spreading in hospitals, long-term care facilities, and beyond traditional healthcare facilities. Unlike fungal infections that researchers are more familiar with, the Candida auris spread is resistant to multiple antifungal medications.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has labeled C. auris a serious, urgent public-health threat, largely because of its antimicrobial resistance. Find out more about what this specific fungal infection could mean, what experts are saying, and the broader implications.

Why Is Drug Resistance Increasing?

Several factors are driving the overall rise in drug-resistant infections. One of the most powerful driving forces behind antimicrobial resistance involves decades of misuse of antibiotics and antifungals. Overprescribing antibiotics, failing to complete treatment courses, and using these drugs for viral infections all contribute to the selection pressure that drives resistance. Medical experts have been warning about this “silent pandemic” for many years, though there has been little progress made in curbing it.

The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role. As hospitals treated waves of seriously ill patients and antibiotic stewardship efforts were disrupted, progress made in reducing resistant infections stalled or reversed. During the pandemic, healthcare-associated infections increased significantly. This problem has remained elevated in the years following the pandemic.

Beyond Fungi: Bacterial Superbugs on the Rise

C. auris is getting plenty of attention because of its high level of drug resistance, but other superbugs are also increasing in complexity and prevalence. CDC researchers have documented dramatic rises in drug-resistant bacteria that produce enzymes, such as the New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM), rendering even the most powerful antibiotics ineffective.

These infections are labeled “nightmare bacteria” by CDC officials and have surged in recent years, with infection rates increasing by hundreds of percent. These nightmare bacteria are associated with the urinary tract, bloodstream, and respiratory system, making them even harder to pinpoint and treat.

Pathogens such as carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are all prime examples of how drug resistance can complicate even the most routine medical care. Without effective antibiotics, surgeries, cancer therapies, and care for premature infants all become even more complex, since infections that were once easily treatable by antibiotics can now take hold in the body.

The Impact on Public Health and Everyday Life

For many people, these reports often seem abstract, but the risk of superbugs, nightmare bacteria, and other health crises has the potential to impact everyone. According to the CDC’s latest report, more than 2.8 million drug-resistant infections occur annually in the U.S., resulting in tens of thousands of deaths.

These infections often spread silently through hospitals, long-term care facilities, and local communities. This becomes even more problematic when treatment options struggle to keep up with the evolution of antimicrobial resistance. Infectious outbreaks typically require rapid identification and control measures to prevent widespread transmission, but many labs lack the tools needed to find the right medication, a problem that’s only worsened by drug-resistant illnesses. This gap means clinicians may inadvertently prescribe ineffective treatments, allowing infections to worsen or spread before they are controlled.

What Needs to Change

Public health officials and scientists agree that a multifaceted approach is necessary. This includes strengthening tracking systems so more cases are detected earlier, improving diagnostic technologies that can quickly match patients with effective therapies, and investing in the development of new antimicrobial drugs.

Experts agree that it’s equally important to reduce the unnecessary use of antibiotics in healthcare and agriculture. Public health campaigns aimed at educating patients and clinicians about responsible prescribing practices, completing full courses of treatment, and avoiding antibiotics for viral infections can all contribute to slowing the pace at which resistance evolves.

Why Antimicrobial Resistance Still Matters

Healthcare professionals face multiple complex issues, and drug-resistant pathogens like Candida auris and NDM-producing bacteria are among the most serious. Unlike outbreaks of a single novel virus or strain, antimicrobial resistance is a long-term and evolving crisis that affects a wide range of organisms and diseases. Since resistance can spread between microbes and geographical locations, containing these superbugs requires both local action and collaboration between healthcare organizations around the world.

Prescribers also play an important role in the ongoing fight against drug-resistant infections. Instead of prescribing antibiotics for every illness, a more tailored approach is necessary. For example, antibiotics are ineffective against viral infections, which means patients dealing with influenza A or B don’t need antibiotics.

There are also steps that you can take as an individual. At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, handwashing and personal hygiene were at the forefront, and they are still among the most powerful weapons against infectious diseases. Additionally, proper antibiotic use is paramount. If a prescriber gives you antibiotics for an infection, finish the prescribed course, even if your symptoms have subsided. The ongoing battle against drug-resistant bacteria requires a concerted effort from everyone, including policymakers, prescribers, and patients.

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