Research Reveals Underestimated Risks of Mold-related Illnesses
WHO:
ABC News - Dr. Jeremy Gold, senior author of the study from the CDC.
ABC News - Dr. Jeffrey Jenks, infectious disease researcher at Duke University.
WHAT:
ABC News - The study's findings were published this week by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
ABC News - The researchers found that the rates of invasive mold disease were higher at larger academic hospitals that tend to see more complicated illnesses.
ABC News - Most patients with invasive mold infections had impaired immune systems or were weakened after falling sick from COVID-19.
ABC News - A study detected about 450 cases of invasive mold infections in Atlanta-area hospitals over five years.
ABC News - About a third of the patients with invasive mold infections died in the hospital.
ABC News - The CDC previously estimated that more than 15,000 hospitalizations a year could be tied to invasive mold disease.
ABC News - The research team identified nearly 1,000 potential cases but narrowed it down to about 450 by ruling out non-qualifying patients.
ABC News - Hospitals can expect to see 3 to 5 cases of invasive mold disease per year for every 100 inpatient beds.
WHERE:
ABC News - The study was conducted in Atlanta-area hospitals and their affiliated outpatient clinics.
WHEN:
ABC News - The research looked for potential cases from 2020 to 2024.
WHY:
ABC News - The study aims to understand the potential increase in mold infections due to a growing population of older individuals who are more susceptible to such illnesses.
ABC News - The study aims to better gauge the commonality of invasive mold infections, which may grow due to climate change and a rising population of older individuals who are more susceptible to such illnesses.
ABC News - Mold exposure is a recurring problem following hurricanes, floods, and other natural disasters influenced by climate change.
HOW:
ABC News - The study did not attempt to determine where each patient was first exposed to mold.
ABC News - The study involved collaboration with four Atlanta-area hospitals to identify cases of invasive mold disease.
(UPDATED July 30, 2026 01:33 UTC)
A new study published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that rates of invasive mold disease are notably higher at larger academic hospitals that treat more complex cases. Most patients affected by these infections had weakened immune systems, often due to prior illnesses like COVID-19. The research aims to shed light on the potential rise in mold infections, particularly among the growing population of older individuals who are more vulnerable to such diseases.
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(UPDATED July 29, 2026 22:29 UTC)
A recent study conducted in Atlanta-area hospitals has identified approximately 450 cases of invasive mold infections over a five-year period, with about a third of those patients succumbing to their illness. Researchers from the CDC and Duke University collaborated on this study, which aims to understand the prevalence of these infections, particularly as climate change and an aging population may increase susceptibility. The findings suggest that hospitals can expect to see between three to five cases of invasive mold disease for every 100 inpatient beds each year.