Deadly mold infections may be far more common than doctors realized, CDC study finds
A little-known but often deadly mold infection may be far more prevalent than previously believed, according to new U.S. research. The study, published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), identified about 450 cases of invasive mold disease across hospitals in the Atlanta area between 2020 and 2024. Roughly one-third of those patients did not survive.
This finding offers one of the clearest pictures yet of a disease that is not required to be reported to public health officials, making it difficult to track nationwide. Dr. Jeremy Gold, the study's senior author at the CDC, warns that the threat could grow in the coming years due to climate change and an aging population.
The study found that hospitals could expect about three to five cases each year for every 100 inpatient beds, with larger academic medical centers seeing the highest rates because they often care for the sickest patients. Many of the patients had weakened immune systems or were recovering from COVID-19.
While most healthy people are unaffected, the infection can become life-threatening for cancer patients, transplant recipients, older adults, and others with weakened immune systems. The CDC has previously estimated that invasive mold disease is linked to more than 15,000 hospitalizations in the United States each year.
Dr. Jeffrey Jenks, an infectious disease specialist at Duke University who was not involved in the research, agrees that the frequency of fungal infections will likely increase with climate change. He calls the research valuable but emphasizes the need for similar studies in other parts of the country to better understand the national impact.
This study highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the threat of invasive mold disease, especially in vulnerable populations. As climate change continues to impact our environment, the potential for exposure to dangerous mold may increase, making it crucial for healthcare providers and policymakers to take proactive measures to prevent and manage these infections.
