A global “wave” of infections caused by treatment-resistant fungi has alarmed the medical community.
Skin-to-skin contact with microorganisms found on soil and hard surfaces – such as in shared gym showers – or exposure to pets infected with fungus can lead to fungal infections known as dermatomycoses. Rashes, itching, discomfort and a burning sensation on the skin are some of the symptoms of fungal infections of the skin.
150 million cases and 1.7 million deaths
Epidemiological data published in the scientific journal “Microbial Cell” show that the increase in serious fungal infections leads to more than 150 million cases and almost 1.7 million deaths.
Broad threat
In a recent study published in the scientific journal Pathogens and Immunity, Thomas McCormick and Mahmoud Ghanoum, professors of Dermatology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, explained how the increasing drug resistance of fungi is exacerbating the problem of aggressive fungal infections.
“This is not an individual patient issue. The World Health Organization has recognized resistant fungal infections as a widespread threat that can affect health systems around the world if left unchecked.”
“Key” is the early detection of fungal infections
Based on their findings, the two researchers issued prevention guidelines and called for immediate action by the medical community to protect the population from multi-resistant fungi – starting with awareness and proper training of specialists, they noted.
“Physicians should prioritize the use of diagnostic tests when faced with an unknown fungal infection,” noted Prof. Ghannoum, adding that “early detection of fungal infections can make a difference in patient outcomes.”
Cancer patients as well as transplant recipients are more vulnerable to fungal infections, especially drug-resistant fungi, the two professors emphasized.
Alarming emergence of multiresistant strains
The emergence of multiresistant strains of fungi, such as Candida auris and Trichophyton indotineae, is particularly worrying and requires immediate attention and action, the researchers underlined.
In a study recently published in the scientific journal “Emerging Infectious Diseases”, Dr. Ghannoum’s research group in collaboration with the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described a case of a patient from which it emerged that Trichophyton indotineae, in addition to becoming resistant to treatments, it was also sexually transmitted. This case testifies to the alarming dynamics that different fungi acquire, endangering public health.
The measures to be taken
As a response to this alarming problem that is taking on ever greater dimensions, McCormick and Ghanoum propose taking specific measures:
- Increase awareness and education of specialists to better understand the causes of the increase in resistant fungal infections.
- Conducting diagnostic tests which will also lead to the appropriate therapeutic strategies for each patient.
- Wider antifungal testing (a fungal susceptibility test used to determine the sensitivity of fungi involved in various infections to various antifungal drugs
- Adopting strategies to prevent and manage fungal drug resistance through coordinated efforts by health professionals, researchers, policy makers and the pharmaceutical industry.
“The ultimate goal of these measures is to improve the quality of patient care by providing them with effective treatments and preventing the further escalation of the problem,” Professor Ghannoum concluded.
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