The World Health Organization (WHO) has catalogued the 19 fungi that represent the greatest public health risk today to promote research and strengthen the response to fungal infections and antifungal resistance.
People most at risk are those with underlying health problems or a weakened immune system, the UN health agency said.
The invasive fungal infections increased significantly among hospitalised patients, often with devastating consequences when the Covid-19 pandemic gathered pace.
“New groups at risk of invasive fungal disease are constantly being identified,” the WHO said Tuesday. “As the fungi that cause common infections – such as candida oral and vaginal thrush – become increasingly resistant to treatment, risks for the development of more invasive forms of infections in the general population are also growing.”
There are only four types of antifungal medicine available today, which is a problem, as fungal infections are becoming more common and resistant to treatment.
Even more worrying is the fact that most fungal pathogens lack rapid and sensitive diagnostics, and those (medicines) that exist are not widely available or affordable globally, the WHO said.
People at greatest risk from invasive fungal infections include those with cancer, HIV or AIDS, organ transplants, chronic respiratory disease and tuberculosis.
Latest data shared by the WHO indicates that fungal diseases are expanding in number and reach worldwide.
Global warming and the increase in international travel and trade are believed to be responsible, the UN health agency said.
To tackle the fungal disease, the WHO urged the strengthening of laboratory and surveillance capacities, to better understand the burden of infection and antifungal resistance.
The UN health agency’s catalogue focuses on fungal pathogens that can cause invasive acute and subacute systemic fungal infections which have proved resistant to medication.
The pathogens are ranked and listed in three priority groups: critical, high and medium. The critical group includes Cryptococcus neoformans, Candida auris, Aspergillus fumigatus and Candida albicans.
Source: United News of Bangladesh