The COVID-19 pandemic changed the world as we know it, and we're slowly recovering from its aftermath. But what if viruses aren't the biggest threat to humans? The opening scene from HBO's "The Last of Us" foreshadows a pathogen-driven apocalypse, but not due to a virus. Instead, this one is caused by a fungus.

This episode takes a "deep dive" into the use of wastewater surveillance to monitor the prevalence of the antifungal resistant yeast Candida auris. Although it's quite different from the Cordyceps that wreak havoc in "The Last of Us", this emerging fungal pathogen can still cause dangerous infections and even death in the most severe cases. This study demonstrates how wastewater surveillance can help identify high risk locations that can be prioritized for additional screening and/or public health interventions to prevent further sp ...