The World Health Organization (WHO) has released its first-ever reports on tests and treatments for fungal infections, which highlight a lack of medicines and diagnostic tools to address invasive fungal diseases
WHO said fungal infections, such as candida, are becoming increasingly resistant to treatment and disproportionately affect severely ill patients and those with weakened immune systems.
“Fungal diseases are an increasing public health concern, with common infections—such as candida, which causes oral and vaginal thrush—growing increasingly resistant to treatment. These infections disproportionately impact severely ill patients and those with weakened immune systems, including individuals undergoing cancer chemotherapy, living with HIV, and those who have had organ transplants,” said WHO.
The report, as published on the WHO website on Tuesday, revealed alarming statistics, including mortality rates as high as 88 percent for certain fungal infections.
It added that despite advancements in treatments, the pipeline of new antifungal drugs and diagnostics is insufficient, and there is a significant gap in fungal testing in low- and middle-income countries
The WHO acting Assistant Director-General for Antimicrobial Resistance, Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, stated that “invasive fungal infections threaten the lives of the most vulnerable, but countries lack the treatments needed to save lives.”
He added that “not only is the pipeline of new antifungal drugs and diagnostics insufficient, there is a void in fungal testing in low- and middle-income countries, even in district hospitals. This diagnostic gap means the cause of people’s suffering remains unknown, making it difficult to get them the right treatments.”
The report also identified several constrained processes in developing treatments against deadly fungal infections, which include limited availability of antifungal medicines, insufficient diagnostic tools, and a lack of research and development.
It noted that only four new antifungal drugs have been approved in the past decade, and only three candidates are in the final stage of clinical development.
The global health body added that existing diagnostics are often inaccurate and require well-equipped laboratories and trained staff.
To address the challenges, WHO recommends investing in global surveillance, expanding financial incentives for drug discovery and development, funding basic research to help identify new and unexploited targets on fungi for medicines, and investigating treatments that work by enhancing patients’ immune responses.
