CDC study finds invasive mold infections an underappreciated threat in U.S. hospitals
A first-of-its-kind study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention examined invasive mold infections at four Atlanta-area hospitals between 2020 and 2024. Researchers identified about 450 cases, roughly one‑third of which resulted in in‑hospital death.
The analysis estimates that hospitals can expect three to five invasive mold cases per 100 inpatient beds each year, with higher rates at larger academic centers. Most affected patients had weakened immune systems, and many were recovering from COVID‑19. The CDC noted that mold exposure, especially after hurricanes, floods and other climate‑related disasters, is likely to rise as climate change progresses. Earlier CDC estimates suggested more than 15,000 hospitalizations annually could be linked to invasive mold disease.
Entities: Atlanta · Dr. Jeffrey Jenks · Dr. Jeremy Gold · U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention · U.S. hospitals
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 4 SOURCES] About one‑third of the patients in the study died in the hospital. (CDC study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] CDC previously estimated more than 15,000 hospitalizations annually could be linked to invasive mold disease. (CDC estimate)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Hospitals can expect three to five invasive mold cases per 100 inpatient beds each year. (CDC study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The CDC conducted a study of invasive mold infections in Atlanta-area hospitals from 2020 to 2024. (CDC study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Mold exposure is expected to increase due to climate‑change‑related disasters such as hurricanes and floods. (CDC study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Most patients in the study had compromised immune systems or were weakened after COVID‑19. (CDC study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] Larger academic hospitals have higher rates of invasive mold infections. (CDC study)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The study identified approximately 450 invasive mold infection cases over five years. (CDC study)