Study suggests the threat of mold-associated illnesses may be underappreciated - AP News

What the report says

The Associated Press reported that a new U.S. study has found invasive mold infections may be a more significant health threat than currently recognized. The research, published this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, identified about 450 cases across Atlanta-area hospitals over a five-year period, with roughly one-third of those patients dying before leaving the hospital.

The study was intended to help estimate how often these illnesses occur, since physicians are not federally required to report them. CDC researcher Dr. Jeremy Gold, the study’s senior author, told AP the findings offer one of the first estimates of this kind. Researchers reviewed records from four hospitals and affiliated outpatient clinics from 2020 to 2024, narrowing nearly 1,000 possible cases to about 450 that met the criteria for invasive mold disease.

AP reported that the infections are uncommon but can be severe, especially for older adults, cancer patients and people with weakened immune systems. Most patients in the study had immune impairment or had been weakened after COVID-19. The researchers estimated hospitals may see about three to five cases annually for every 100 inpatient beds, with higher rates at major academic hospitals that treat more complex patients.

The study did not determine where patients were exposed, and Gold cautioned that findings from Atlanta may not apply evenly across the country. Still, the work could help hospitals distinguish expected case levels from potential outbreaks. AP also noted broader concerns that climate-influenced disasters such as floods and hurricanes may increase mold exposure, while an aging population could raise the number of people vulnerable to serious fungal infections.