Dangerous Mold: Every Second Infected Person May Die
A new CDC study involving nearly 1,000 patients found 449 cases of severe mold infection, a third of which ended in death. Scientists analyzed laboratory tests from 4 Atlanta hospitals over 2020-2024. The overall 90-day mortality rate was 45%. In patients with coronavirus, the disease was more severe: 66% required intensive care, and mortality reached 66%. Nearly 35% of patients had no classic risk factors.
A new study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that mold may be far more dangerous to health than previously thought. Scientists examined laboratory test results from 4 hospitals in the Atlanta area from 2020 to 2024, suspecting invasive fungal infection in 968 patients. After careful verification, the diagnosis was confirmed in 449 people (46%). Of these, 13% also had coronavirus. Most patients (43%) were aged 45-64, and another 39% were over 65. The infection most often affected the lungs (68%). Most patients (81%) received antifungal therapy, but about 43% required intensive care unit admission, and half needed mechanical ventilation. The overall all-cause mortality within 90 days after diagnosis was 45%. In patients with coronavirus, the disease was significantly more severe: 66% required intensive care, and 90-day mortality reached 66%. Nearly 35% of patients had no classic risk factors. Experts warn that the incidence of fungal infections will increase due to climate change and an aging population.