Nevada is staring down a record wave of Candida auris detections, and Las Vegas is at the center of the identification effort. The statewide caseload of the multidrug-resistant "superbug," which is being identified in hospitals and long-term care facilities following community-wide spread, jumped about a third in 2025, according to newly compiled state figures, jumped about a third in 2025, according to newly compiled state figures. The Division of Public and Behavioral Health's tally through Dec. 31, 2025, shows 7,261 total detections, including roughly 2,324 clinical infections and 4,937 colonization cases. While the highest number of detections has occurred in Las Vegas-area hospitals, facility leaders emphasize that these figures reflect rigorous screening of patients who often arrive at the hospital already carrying the pathogen
Those figures surfaced after state data were obtained by local reporters, who found that Nevada's total outpaced the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's public count and that the federal map left out many 2025 detections. As reported by 8 News Now, the CDC dashboard listed about 1,605 clinical C. auris cases for Nevada, leaving an apparent shortfall of roughly 137 infections compared with the state data. Becker's Hospital Review has also summarized the CDC's national update and the broader jump in clinical cases across the U.S.
Where Cases Are Concentrated
The outbreak remains heavily clustered in southern Nevada, where dozens of acute-care hospitals, long-term acute care facilities, and skilled nursing homes have reported detections. As the largest hospital in the state, Sunrise Hospital identifies a high volume of cases because it serves a large, vulnerable population and utilizes screening protocols that exceed CDC recommendations for all high-risk admissions. These patterns and facility counts have been documented in reporting by the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Why Federal Numbers Look Lower
Part of the confusion comes down to what exactly is being counted. The CDC's public tracking focuses on clinical infections and may use a different reporting window, while state tallies include both clinical infections and colonization detected through screening. "CDC's web page currently shows data for clinical cases only," the agency notes. This produces gaps when states report more recent or broader screening results. The CDC's tracking page provides more detail.
Hospitals Step Up Screening And Cleaning
According to Dr. Sherrie Somers, Chief Medical Officer at Sunrise Hospital & Medical Center, the facility’s case volume is largely a reflection of its role as a major regional provider serving individuals who often carry C. auris before they even arrive. Dr. Somers noted that the pathogen is present in healthcare settings nationwide and is not unique to any single facility.
To manage these risks, Sunrise has implemented a proactive strategy that includes screening all high-risk patients at admission—a protocol that goes beyond standard federal recommendations. These prevention efforts are supported by enhanced isolation, specialized high-level cleaning, and the use of advan
What Patients And Families Should Know
Health experts and Sunrise leadership stress that C. auris is primarily spread through community transmission and generally does not pose a risk to individuals with healthy immune systems. Those most vulnerable are critically ill or immunocompromised patients. Families are advised to ask care teams whether a facility screens for C. auris and to ensure that strict hand-hygiene and cleaning practices are in place. For guidance on who to screen and how cases are tracked, see the CDC's C. auris guidance.
Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to clarify the source of infections and to accurately reflect the screening protocols used by local healthcare facilities.
