The World Health Organization on Tuesday warned that reported invasive fungal infections increased significantly among hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a release alongside its recently released list of priority fungal pathogens, the U.N. health agency said emerging evidence indicates that the incidence and geographic range of fungal diseases are expanding around the world due to the increases in travel as well as climate change.
"Emerging from the shadows of the bacterial antimicrobial resistance pandemic, fungal infections are growing, and are ever more resistant to treatments, becoming a public health concern worldwide," Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO's assistant director-general of antimicrobial resistance, said in a statement.
The list categorizes the pathogens into three categories, including critical, high and medium priority. Candida auris is a yeast responsible for many infections. Resistant to most antifungal drugs, this fungus causes several deaths worldwide. Of the 19 invasive fungal diseases, four were categorized as "critical priority," including Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Candida auris. The report says that drug-resistant infections are estimated to cause 1.27 million deaths and contribute to nearly 5 million deaths annually.
A recent study published in the journal Nature estimates that of the 150,000 fungal species described, only about 200 of them are infectious to people.
Invasive forms of fungal infections often impact severely ill patients and those with underlying conditions.
Populations at greatest risk of infection include those with cancer, HIV/AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease and post-primary tuberculosis infection. There are only four classes of antifungal medicines currently available. The WHO said its ranking by experts — the first fungal priority pathogens list — marks the first effort to prioritize the issue.
It calls for more evidence to inform the response to these threats, including preventing the development of antimicrobial resistance, and address the impact of antifungal use on resistance across the One Health spectrum.
Any opinions, views and beliefs represented in this article are personal and belong solely to the author/s and do not necessarily reflect the opinion, views and beliefs of the organisation and employees of New Image™ International
5 tips to Joint Health
Children's Immunity
Bridging The Gap In Nutrition
The History of Colostrum
Colostrum – The Key To Health
Colostrum - How might it benefit my health
Protect your family this winter
