Fungal Infections Claim More Than One Million Lives Every Year

Fungal infections are a threat to human health as it claims more lives every year. This increases the pressing need for scientists to develop an effective vaccine.

The incidence of fungal infections is increasing at an alarming rate. It is a threat to human health as it kills more people than malaria or cancer.

Professor Neil Gow of the University of Aberdeen said that more than one million people die from fungal infections around the world each year. There are no vaccines yet, pressing the need for new treatments.

Statement on the Treatment of Pulmonary Fungal Infections Issued by ATS
A new official clinical policy statement on the treatment of fungal infections in adult pulmonary and critical care patients has been released by the American Thoracic Society.

‘Most of the fungal infections are less likely to respond to the commonly used anti-fungal drugs, making the infections difficult to treat.’

Doctors in England reported a new strain of fungi causing outbreaks in hospitals. Warnings have been issued regarding Candida auris - which has caused an outbreak affecting 40 patients in one hospital in south-east England.

In 2009, the infection was first detected in Japan. Since then it has been discovered across Asia and parts of South America.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the yeast infection can enter the bloodstream and spread throughout the body, causing serious invasive infections in some patients. The infection does not respond to commonly used antifungal drugs, making infections difficult to treat.

Fungal Infections Associated With Contaminated Steroid Injections
Researchers from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)linked the pathological findings from 40 case reports of fungal infection due to contaminated injection to clinical and lab data

There are more than five million types of fungi, but, three major groups cause a majority of deaths in humans.

Aspergillus - which affects the lungs
Cryptococcus - which mainly attacks the brain
Candida - which infects mucosal membranes including in the mouth and genitals

People with weakened immune systems (HIV patients) are more likely to die from fungal infections.

Every year, more than a million people are dying from fungal infections. But still, fungal infections are not considered a priority. Health experts warned about the need to understand these different types of infections and how to deal with them.

Guidelines for Testing and Treating Toenail Fungus
Confirmatory testing before treatment of onychomycosis substantially reduced costs, suggesting that it should still be used before beginning treatment.

Source-Medindia

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