NEW YORK (AP) — A first-of-its-kind U.S. study suggests invasive mold infections may be an underappreciated — and potentially deadly — threat. Meanwhile, there's a growing population of older people who are more susceptible to such illnesses, Gold said. Previously, CDC researchers estimated more than 15,000 hospitalizations a year could be tied to invasive mold disease. The researchers found that hospitals can expect to see 3 to 5 cases per year for every 100 inpatient beds. Most patients had impaired immune systems or — in a number of cases — were weakened after falling sick from COVID-19.