Newswise – CLEVELAND – A global wave of infections caused by drug-resistant fungi is prompting the medical community to take precautions on how to protect yourself.
Skin contact with microorganisms found in soil or on hard surfaces such as: B. communal showers, or contact with infected pets can lead to fungal infections, so-called dermatomycoses. Symptoms include rashes, itching, burning, and skin irritation.
Epidemiological data published in Microbial cell notes that a rise in serious fungal infections has resulted in over 150 million cases and nearly 1.7 million deaths annually worldwide.
In a recent study published in pathogens and immunity, Thomas McCormick And Mahmoud GhannoumProfessors of dermatology at the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and connected with University Hospitals Cleveland Medical CenterExplain how increasing antifungal resistance is exacerbating the problem of invasive fungal infections.
“This is not just an issue affecting individual patients,” McCormick said. “The World Health Organization has recognized that this is a widespread threat that has the potential to impact entire health systems if left unchecked.”
Based on their findings, researchers have issued precautionary measures and a “call to action” to the medical community to help protect people from multidrug-resistant fungi, starting with awareness and education.
“Health care providers must prioritize the use of diagnostic testing when faced with an unknown fungal infection,” Ghannoum said. “Early detection can make all the difference in improving patient outcomes.”
Patients treated with drugs to protect the immune system after cancer and transplants are more susceptible to fungal infections – making them particularly vulnerable to infections caused by drug-resistant fungi, the researchers said.
The emergence of multi-resistant fungal species, such as Candida auris And Trichophyton indotineaeis particularly concerning and requires urgent attention, they reported.
In a recently published study in Emerging infectious diseasesGhannoum’s research team and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), detailed a case that demonstrated Trichophyton indotineaewas not only drug-resistant, but also sexually transmitted.
To address growing health concerns, McCormick and Ghannoum suggest several measures:
- Increased awareness and education: Raise awareness in general healthcare settings to gain a more accurate understanding of the increase in antifungal-resistant infections.
- Diagnostic tests: Routine use of diagnostic testing can guide appropriate treatment strategies.
- Antifungal Susceptibility Test (AST): Improving insurance reimbursement rates for AST and increasing the number of qualified laboratories with the capacity to perform these tests.
- Call to action: Addressing the new challenge of antifungal resistance requires concerted efforts by health professionals, researchers, policymakers and the pharmaceutical industry to develop and implement strategies to manage and prevent antifungal resistance.
“The ultimate goal of these measures,” Ghannoum said, “is to improve the quality of patient care by ensuring effective treatment and preventing further escalation of the problem.”
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About Case Western Reserve University
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About University Hospitals / Cleveland, Ohio: Founded in 1866, University Hospitals serves the needs of patients through an integrated network of 21 hospitals (including five joint ventures), more than 50 health centers and outpatient facilities, and more than 200 physician practices in 16 counties throughout Northern Ohio. The system’s flagship quaternary care academic medical center, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center, is affiliated with Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Northeast Ohio Medical University, Oxford University, Technion Israel Institute of Technology and the National Taiwan University College of Medicine affiliated. The main campus also includes UH Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital, one of the best children’s hospitals in the country; UH MacDonald Women’s Hospital, Ohio’s only women’s hospital; and the UH Seidman Cancer Center, part of the NCI-designated Case Comprehensive Cancer Center. UH is home to some of the most prestigious clinical and research programs in the country, with more than 3,000 ongoing clinical trials and research studies. UH Cleveland Medical Center consistently ranks among the top performers in national ranking surveys, including “America’s Best Hospitals” by U.S. News & World Report. UH is also home to 19 clinical care and research institutes. UH is one of the largest employers in Northeast Ohio with more than 30,000 employees. Keep following UH LinkedIn, Facebook And Twitter. For more information visit UHhospitals.org.