The Candida auris infection has been confirmed in 12 U.S. states, including Maryland, according to an article on the Baltimore Patch website.
The antibiotic resistant fungus can remain colonized in patients and on surfaces in healthcare facilities for long periods of time, making it more difficult to fight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC said a patient who received health care in a country where the fungus has been reported brought it to the United States.
In Maryland, three cases have been confirmed. Other states with confirmed cases include California, Connecticut, Florida, Indiana, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Texas and Virginia. Together, U.S. states have reported 613 confirmed cases, with an additional 30 probable cases.