Candida infections are getting harder to treat, says CDC

Technology Dec 02, 2025

Candida infections—like the ones that cause thrush—are becoming more resistant to fluconazole, a go-to antifungal medicine.
The CDC reports resistance rates have climbed to about 7%, making treatment trickier than it used to be.

Resistance varies by region and species

While the US average is about 7%, some places are seeing much higher numbers—for example, Egypt reported a whopping 26% resistance in C. albicans last year.

Why this matters for treatment options

With more strains dodging fluconazole, doctors have fewer ways to treat serious or routine infections—especially risky for hospital patients or anyone with a weak immune system.
Overuse of antifungals and not enough new meds are part of the problem, so keeping an eye on this trend is pretty important for everyone's health going forward.