45% of Invasive Mold Disease Patients Died Within 90 Days, Data Finds

IMDs occur when mold enters the body through inhalation or exposure to contaminated medical devices or linens.

Aug. 12, 2026

2 min read

Key Highlights

- 45% of patients with invasive mold disease died within 90 days, indicating high mortality rates.
- Lung infections are the most common, comprising 68% of IMD cases, followed by skin, sinus, and CNS infections.
- Over a third of IMD cases occurred in patients without classic risk factors, challenging existing screening criteria.
- COVID-19 infection increases the risk of IMD, with 66% of COVID-positive patients requiring ICU care versus 39% without COVID.
- Critical illness and COVID-19 are significant risk factors, leading to worse outcomes in IMD patients.

New data from the CDC found that 45% of patients with invasive mold disease (IMD) at four hospitals died within 90 days, and half required mechanical ventilation. CIDRAP has the news.

IMDs occur when certain types of mold enter the body through inhalation of mold spores from the environment, exposure to contaminated medical devices and linens, or as part of healthcare-associated outbreaks. The mold spares travel into the body and damage tissues and organs, affecting body systems such as the lungs, sinuses, skin, and central nervous system (CNS).

Researchers identified 968 patients with potential IMD. 46% of those ended up having an infection. Lung infections were the most common manifestation by far, accounting for 68% of cases. Skin or deep-tissue infections accounted for 11% of cases, sinus or nasal infections for 10%, and CNS infections for 9%. 35% of the patients had none of the classic risk factors, like weakened or compromised immune systems, used to identify people more likely to become infected.

13% of the patients infected had a current or recent COVID-19 infection. Critical illness is being “increasingly recognized as an IMD risk factor,” according to the researchers. 66% of those patients were admitted to the ICU, compared to 39% of those without a COVID infection. Mortality rates were also higher for those with COVID infections.