Deadly mold infections may be far more common than doctors realized, CDC study finds

Key Points:

• New CDC research reveals invasive mold disease may be more common and deadly than previously thought, with about one in three hospitalized patients in Atlanta-area hospitals dying from the infection between 2020 and 2024.
• The study identified roughly 450 confirmed cases out of nearly 1,000 reviewed, highlighting the difficulty in tracking this illness as it is not required to be reported to public health officials.
• Experts warn the threat could increase due to climate change and an aging population, with extreme weather events like hurricanes and flooding raising exposure risks, particularly for vulnerable groups such as older adults and immunocompromised patients.
• Invasive mold disease primarily affects those with weakened immune systems and can enter the body through inhaled spores, wounds, or contaminated medical equipment, often impacting cancer patients, transplant recipients, and COVID-19 recoverees.
• Researchers emphasize the need for similar studies nationwide to better understand the disease's prevalence and help hospitals identify whether their infection rates indicate a broader problem.