Increased Hospitalizations Involving Fungal Infections during COVID-19 Pandemic, United States, January 2020-December 2021

Hospitalizations involving fungal infections increased 8.5% each year in the United States during 2019-2021. During 2020-2021, patients hospitalized with COV-ID-19-associated fungal infections had higher (48.5%) in-hospital mortality rates than those with non-CO-VID-19-associated fungal infections (12.3%). Improved fungal disease surveillance is needed, particularly during respiratory virus pandemics.

Automated summary

Hospitalizations due to fungal infections in the US increased by 8.5% annually from 2019 to 2021. In 2020-2021, patients hospitalized with COVID-19-associated fungal infections had a higher in-hospital mortality rate (48.5%) compared to those with non-COVID-19-associated fungal infections (12.3%). Enhanced surveillance of fungal diseases is necessary, especially during respiratory virus pandemics.