Candida auris, also referred to as C. auris, is a potentially deadly fungal infection that appears to be making its way through hospitals and long-term care facilities across the country. The New York City area and New Jersey have reported more than 400 cases over the last few years alone. Federal health authorities have declared this fungus a “serious global health threat.”

C. auris is a particularly concerning fungus because it is resistant to some or all anti-fungal medicines, and can live on surfaces for days. This makes the fungus particularly hard to both treat and eradicate, as it can quickly lead to death in patients who have already weakened immune systems or are otherwise already compromised with serious medical problems.