World Health Organization today published a report of original list of important fungal pathogens. The index fungi pathogens that represents the greatest threat to public health. The most dangerous is the “critical group”, which contains just four fungal pathogens:
The most dangerous is the “critical group,” which contains just four fungal pathogens: Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus fumigatus, Candida albicans and Candida auris.
Fungal infections are growing, and are ever more resistant to treatments, becoming a public health concern worldwide” said Dr Hanan Balkhy, WHO Assistant Director-General, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR).
Fungal infections receive very little attention and resources, leading to a scarcity of quality data on fungal disease distribution and antifungal resistance patterns. As a result, the exact burden of fungal diseases and antifungal resistance, are unknown, and the response is therefore undermined.
The WHO fungal priority pathogens list (FPPL) is the first global effort to systematically prioritize fungal pathogens, with the aim of focusing on research and policy intervention to strengthen the global response to fungal infections and antifungal resistance.
Due to the fungal pathogens increasing resistant to treatment with the available four classes of antifungal medication available, most fungal pathogens lack rapid diagnostics affordable globally.
The WHO FPPL list is divided into three categories: critical, high and medium priority. The fungal pathogens of in each priority category are so ranked primarily due to their public health impact.
WHO Director, AMR Global Coordination Department, Dr Haileyesus Getahun said
“We need more data and evidence on fungal infections and antifungal resistance to inform and improve response to these priority fungal pathogens”.
