A worldwide wave of infections attributable to the growing drug resistance of fungi has the medical community issuing precautions on the right way to protect themselves.
Skin contact with microorganisms present in soil or on hard surfaces, reminiscent of common shower facilities, or exposure to infected pets can lead to a fungal infection called dermatomycoses. Itching, itching, irritation and burning of the skin are amongst its symptoms.
Epidemiological data published in 2012 show that the rise in severe fungal infections has resulted in greater than 150 million cases annually and roughly 1.7 million deaths globally.
In a recent study published in , Thomas McCormick and Mahmoud Ghannam, professors of dermatology at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and affiliated with University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, explain how increased antifungal resistance to invasive fungal infections making the issue worse.
“This is not just a problem that affects individual patients,” McCormick said. “The World Health Organization has recognized it as a widespread threat that has the potential to affect the entire health care system if left unchecked.”
Based on their findings, the researchers issued a “call to action” for preventive measures and the medical community to assist protect people from multidrug-resistant fungi — starting with awareness and education.
“Healthcare providers should prioritize the use of diagnostic tests when encountering an unknown fungal infection,” Ghanum said. “Early detection can make all the difference in improving patient outcomes.”
Patients treated with drugs to guard the immune system after cancer and transplant procedures have a better risk of fungal infections — making them especially vulnerable to drug-resistant fungal infections, the researchers said. turn out to be
They report that the emergence of multidrug-resistant fungal species, reminiscent of and , is especially worrisome and requires urgent attention.
A recently published study by Ghanam's research team and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) described a case that showed that along with becoming drug-resistant, sexually Can even be transferred to
To address the growing health concern, McCormick and Ghannoum recommend several steps:
- Increased awareness and education: Raising awareness in the overall health setting to realize a more accurate understanding of the rise of antifungal-resistant infections.
- Diagnostic tests: Routine use of diagnostic tests can guide appropriate treatment strategies.
- Antifungal Susceptibility Testing (AST): Improving insurance reimbursement rates for AST and increasing the variety of accredited laboratories with the capability to perform these tests.
- Call for motion: Addressing the emerging challenge of antifungal resistance requires healthcare professionals, researchers, policy makers and the pharmaceutical industry to develop and implement strategies to administer and stop antifungal resistance. Includes joint efforts to
“The ultimate goal of these initiatives is to improve the quality of patient care by ensuring effective treatment and preventing the problem from worsening,” Ghannam said.