TL;DR
Turn quiet afternoons into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
A CDC report describes a rise in detected Cladophialophora bantiana infections at a U.S. reference laboratory, from eight cases in 2024 to 14 in 2025. The rare fungus often causes brain abscesses and can be fatal, but the data do not establish why detections increased or how many infections occurred nationwide.
A CDC-published report describes a rise in detections of the rare fungus Cladophialophora bantiana at a U.S. clinical reference laboratory, with annual cases increasing from eight in 2024 to 14 in 2025. The fungus commonly causes brain abscesses and has been associated with case-fatality rates of up to 70%, but researchers say it is not yet clear whether the rise reflects more infections, improved detection or other factors.
The University of Washington laboratory identified 48 confirmed cases and one probable case from January 2009 through July 2026, according to the report in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report. Annual detections ranged from one to five between 2009 and 2023, before rising to eight in 2024 and 14 in 2025. These figures describe cases found by that laboratory, not a complete count of infections across the country.
Most infections involved the central nervous system: 88% of cases were identified in intracranial tissue specimens, while 12% were found in lung specimens. The pattern is consistent with a presumed respiratory route, though the researchers say infection may also follow direct inoculation through a skin injury. Cases were detected in samples from 21 states and the District of Columbia. California had six; Florida and Texas had five each, and Pennsylvania had four. The median patient age was 68.
The laboratory’s rate of detection also rose, from an annual average of 8.4 cases per 1,000 CNS specimens in 2017–2023 to 26 per 1,000 specimens in 2025. That comparison uses the stated specimen-based measure and does not establish the infection rate in the general population. The report’s authors include Joshua Lieberman, MD, PhD, of the University of Washington School of Medicine.
The Risk of a Rare Brain Infection
C. bantiana is rare, but infections can be severe: they commonly present as brain abscesses and have reported case-fatality rates of up to 70%. The report’s concern is not limited to people with weakened immune systems. Researchers say the fungus can also infect people who appear otherwise healthy, making it relevant to clinicians investigating unexplained brain abscesses.
The findings do not show that an individual’s risk has increased by a particular amount, or that the fungus is spreading broadly through the population. They do highlight a diagnostic challenge: infections may be missed when routine cultures do not identify a cause. Recognizing a possible rare fungal infection can help clinicians consider specialized testing and treatment options, while decisions about care remain specific to each patient.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
How the Laboratory Detected Cases
The figures come from a clinical reference laboratory that tests submitted samples from across the United States, rather than a population-wide surveillance system. As a result, its records can show changes in detections over time but cannot establish the total number of U.S. infections or explain why the numbers changed.
Lieberman told MedPage Today that mold infections can be difficult to grow in laboratory cultures and that molecular testing may improve detection. He also said at least one other specialized U.S. fungal laboratory had seen an increase in detected cases. The report discusses possible influences such as specimen volume, diagnostic methods, environmental changes and human contact with the fungus’s environmental reservoir, but does not determine which, if any, caused the increase.
“C. bantiana is a rare but important cause of brain abscess in both healthy and immunosuppressed people.”
— Joshua Lieberman, MD, PhD, of the University of Washington School of Medicine, speaking to MedPage Today
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Why Detections Increased
The data cannot determine whether the increase represents more infections, more samples being submitted, better detection through molecular testing, or a combination of factors. Researchers raised climate change and human encroachment on the fungus’s environmental habitat as possible explanations, but presented them as possibilities, not established causes.
The true incidence is unknown because the laboratory’s records are not a complete national count and mold infections may be underdetected. The report also does not establish where patients encountered the fungus, why it so often affects the brain, or whether the pattern continued after the most recent data included. The reported fatality rate of up to 70% is not a prediction for any particular patient.
fungal culture test for CNS infections
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Further Surveillance and Diagnosis
Additional observations from reference laboratories and broader surveillance would help researchers determine whether detections continue to rise and whether the pattern reflects a change in infection frequency or diagnosis. The report does not announce a specific follow-up study or a new CDC testing recommendation.
Lieberman suggested that clinicians consider rare causes such as C. bantiana when a brain abscess remains unexplained after cerebrospinal fluid testing or routine cultures, particularly in someone who appears otherwise healthy. The report says treatment may involve surgical removal of an abscess alongside combination antifungal therapy; these are clinical decisions made by treating specialists. The next key development is whether additional data clarify the scale and cause of the increase.
medical laboratory fungal testing equipment
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
What is Cladophialophora bantiana?
C. bantiana is a rare fungus associated with infections of the central nervous system. These infections commonly present as brain abscesses, according to the report.
How many cases did the laboratory identify?
The University of Washington laboratory identified 48 confirmed cases and one probable case between January 2009 and July 2026. That is a laboratory count, not a confirmed national total.
Does the report explain why detections rose?
No. Researchers said the increase could reflect more submitted specimens or improved testing, among other possibilities. The report does not establish a cause.
Can the fungus infect people who are otherwise healthy?
Yes. Lieberman described it as a cause of brain abscess in both apparently healthy and immunosuppressed people. The report does not quantify an individual’s risk.
What should someone do if they are concerned about a fungal infection?
This report is not a diagnosis or personal medical advice. People with health concerns should consult a qualified health professional, who can assess symptoms and determine whether testing or treatment is appropriate.
Source: rss
Halloween Picks
halloween
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
